Marseille Faces Defensive Challenges Ahead of Champions League Clash

Marseille enters this week’s Champions League encounter with Newcastle under considerable pressure, exacerbated by mounting challenges. The club has confirmed that defender Nayef Aguerd will be unavailable for the match due to ongoing discomfort from pubalgia, effectively extinguishing hopes for a timely return. The Moroccan international, who also missed the team’s recent 5-1 victory over Nice, has been contending with groin pain for several weeks. Medical staff have recommended rest, particularly with the Africa Cup of Nations approaching in less than a month.

Aguerd’s absence significantly strains Marseille’s defensive resources at a crucial juncture, as the team seeks to gain meaningful momentum in European competition. Although he had initially joined the Moroccan national team earlier this month, Aguerd was quickly withdrawn from consideration for their friendly matches, as medical advice indicated he requires at least two weeks for recovery. The defender privately admitted he could no longer compete while in pain, prompting caution from both his club and national team.

Compounding Marseille’s difficulties is an additional setback concerning defender Facundo Medina. The Argentine center-back, who has been sidelined for nearly two months due to a right ankle sprain, has suffered a relapse in his recovery and is not expected to return until January. Coach Roberto De Zerbi addressed the situation candidly: “Medina has had a relapse. He should be out for another month. His replacement is challenging due to both his character and physical attributes.”

Medina’s injury issues have plagued him since the season commenced; he sustained an injury to his other ankle in August, which delayed his debut until mid-September. His leadership qualities, aggressive play, and ability to transition the ball from defense have been vital traits—traits that Marseille now must find a way to compensate for as they enter their busiest period of the campaign.

With both Aguerd and Medina absent, De Zerbi may have to rely heavily on players such as Benjamin Pavard, CJ Egan-Riley, and Leonardo Balerdi—a rotation that poses significant challenges given the stakes of the upcoming match.

Adding to Marseille’s woes, they are also missing two key attacking players, Amine Gouiri and Hamed Junior Traore. Gouiri has been out since early October following surgery for a dislocated right shoulder, an injury exacerbated during international duty with Algeria. Although his rehabilitation at Aspetar is progressing, he is not expected to return until January 2026. His absence denies Marseille a versatile forward capable of linking play and breaking down defenses, making his role difficult to replicate consistently.

Traore’s situation is equally concerning. The Ivorian has been out since September with a persistent thigh injury, and despite efforts to resume light training, he continues to experience pain. De Zerbi recently acknowledged that “things are not progressing well,” and the club has already reassigned a physiotherapist involved in Traore’s initial rehabilitation due to mishandling the recovery process.

In light of the injury issues affecting key forwards like Gouiri and Traore, De Zerbi is navigating this challenging period by leaning more on players like Timothy Weah and Mason Greenwood, employing rotations and tactical adjustments as necessary. De Zerbi appreciates Weah’s versatility, which aids in mitigating the impact of injuries by filling gaps on the right flank, whether as a winger or wing-back. This adaptability has proven essential for Marseille in maintaining an attacking threat and squad balance amid numerous absences.

Despite these adversities, Marseille demonstrated against Nice that they possess the firepower and collective strength for impactful performances. However, the Champions League presents a different intensity level, and without pivotal players, De Zerbi must once again rely on tactical flexibility and squad depth.