Marseille Faces Defensive Challenges Ahead of Champions League Clash

omidbasir- Marseille approaches the midweek Champions League encounter with Newcastle under considerable pressure, and the situation has become more challenging. The club announced that defender Nayef Aguerd will miss the match due to persistent pubalgia, effectively extinguishing hopes for his late return. The Moroccan international, who also missed the recent 5-1 victory over Nice, has been grappling with groin pain for several weeks. Following medical advice, he has been instructed to rest, particularly with the Africa Cup of Nations looming less than a month away.

Aguerd’s absence further strains Marseille’s defensive resources at a pivotal moment as they seek to build momentum in European competition. Although Aguerd had traveled to join the Moroccan national team earlier this month, he was swiftly ruled out of friendly matches and advised to take at least two weeks for recovery. The defender acknowledged privately that he could no longer endure the pain, leading to cautious decisions from both his club and national team.

Adding to Marseille’s woes, centre-back Facundo Medina is facing another setback. The Argentine defender, who has been sidelined for nearly two months due to a right ankle sprain, has experienced a relapse in his recovery and will not be available until January. Coach Roberto De Zerbi candidly explained, “Medina has had a relapse. He should be out for another month. He is difficult to replace because of his character and physical attributes.”

Medina’s injury troubles have plagued him since the start of the season, having injured his other ankle in August, which delayed his debut until mid-September. His leadership qualities and ability to carry the ball out of defense have been invaluable—traits that Marseille will struggle to replicate as they navigate their busiest period of the season.

With both Aguerd and Medina unavailable, De Zerbi may be compelled to lean heavily on Benjamin Pavard, CJ Egan-Riley, and Leonardo Balerdi, a rotation that poses a significant challenge given the high stakes of the upcoming match.

In addition to defensive issues, Marseille also continues to be without 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. His rehabilitation at Aspetar is progressing, yet he is not expected to return until January 2026. His absence deprives Marseille of a versatile forward capable of linking play and breaking down defenses—an increasingly difficult role to fill consistently.

Traore’s situation is equally concerning, as the Ivorian has been sidelined since September due to a persistent thigh injury. Although he has attempted to resume light training, the pain has not diminished. De Zerbi recently noted that “things are not progressing well,” prompting the club to reassign the physiotherapist previously overseeing his rehabilitation due to mismanagement of the recovery process.

Given the injury crises affecting key forwards like Gouiri and Traore, De Zerbi is navigating this challenging period by increasingly relying on players such as Timothy Weah and Mason Greenwood, adjusting formations and roles as necessary. De Zerbi appreciates Weah’s versatility, which helps mitigate the impact of injuries by filling gaps on the right side, either as a winger or wing-back. This adaptability has been crucial for Marseille in maintaining their attacking threat and squad balance in the face of absences.

Despite these adversities, Marseille demonstrated against Nice that they possess the offensive capability and collective strength to execute significant performances. However, the Champions League presents a different level of intensity, and without pivotal players, De Zerbi must once again turn to tactical adaptability and squad depth.