Marseille Faces Defensive Challenges Ahead of Champions League Clash

omidbasir- Marseille enters this week’s Champions League match against Newcastle under considerable pressure, a situation exacerbated by injury setbacks. The club has confirmed that Nayef Aguerd will miss the match due to persistent pubalgia discomfort, effectively ruling out any hopes for a late return. The Moroccan defender, who also missed the 5-1 victory over Nice, has been dealing with groin pain for several weeks. Medical staff have recommended rest, particularly with the Africa Cup of Nations approaching.

Aguerd’s absence is a significant blow to the team’s defensive capabilities at a crucial juncture as Marseille seeks its first meaningful momentum in European competition. Although he had traveled to join the Moroccan national team earlier this month, he was quickly withdrawn from consideration for friendly matches and advised that he would need at least two weeks for recovery. The defender privately acknowledged that he could no longer play through the pain, leading to a cautious approach from both his club and national team.

Adding to Marseille’s woes is a setback for Lucas Medina. The Argentine center-back, who has already been sidelined for nearly two months due to a right ankle sprain, has suffered a relapse in his recovery and will not return until January. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi addressed the situation candidly: “Medina has had a relapse. He should be out for another month. He is difficult to replace, both because of his character and physical attributes.”

Medina’s injury troubles have plagued him since the season’s start, having injured his other ankle in August and delaying his debut until mid-September. His leadership, aggression, and ability to transition the ball from defense have been crucial attributes—qualities that Marseille must now find a way to replace during their busiest period of the campaign.

With both Aguerd and Medina unavailable, De Zerbi may need to lean heavily on Benjamin Pavard, CJ Egan-Riley, and Leonardo Balerdi, a rotation that is less than ideal given the stakes of the upcoming match.

In addition to defensive concerns, Marseille is also missing two vital attacking players, Amine Gouiri and Hamed Junior Traore. Gouiri has been out since early October following surgery for a dislocated right shoulder, an injury aggravated during international duty with Algeria. His rehabilitation at Aspetar is progressing, but he is not expected to return until January 2026. His absence significantly impacts Marseille’s offensive versatility, making it challenging to find a suitable replacement.

Traore’s situation is equally concerning. The Ivorian has been sidelined since September with a persistent thigh injury. Although he has attempted light training, the pain remains, and De Zerbi has acknowledged that “things are not progressing well.” The club has even reassigned a physiotherapist involved in Traore’s initial rehabilitation due to mismanagement of the recovery process.

Given these injury challenges affecting key forwards like Gouiri and Traore, De Zerbi is adapting by relying more on players such as Timothy Weah and Mason Greenwood, adjusting formations and roles as needed. De Zerbi appreciates Weah’s versatility, which is essential in filling gaps on the right flank, whether as a winger or wing-back. This adaptability has been critical for Marseille to maintain an attacking threat and squad balance amid ongoing absences.

Despite these adversities, Marseille demonstrated against Nice that they possess the firepower and collective strength to deliver impressive performances. However, the Champions League introduces a different level of intensity, and without key figures, De Zerbi must once again resort to tactical adaptability and depth within the squad.