Marseille Faces Defensive Challenges Ahead of Champions League Match

omidbasir- Marseille enters the midweek Champions League clash against Newcastle under considerable pressure, exacerbated by recent injury setbacks. The club has confirmed that defender Nayef Aguerd will miss the match due to persistent pubalgia discomfort, eliminating hopes for a late return. Aguerd, who was also absent during the 5-1 victory over Nice, has been struggling with groin pain for several weeks. Medical staff have emphasized the necessity of rest, particularly with the Africa Cup of Nations looming less than a month away.

Aguerd’s absence significantly strains Marseille’s defensive resources at a crucial juncture as they seek to gain momentum in European competition. Although he had initially traveled to join the Moroccan national team earlier this month, he was swiftly withdrawn from consideration for friendly matches due to his injury and advised to take at least two weeks for recovery. The defender privately acknowledged that he could no longer play through the pain, leading to precautionary measures from both club and national team.

Adding to Marseille’s concerns is another setback for defender Lautaro Medina. The Argentine centre-back, who has already been sidelined for nearly two months due to a right ankle sprain, has suffered a relapse in his recovery, ruling him out until January.

Coach Roberto De Zerbi candidly addressed the situation, stating, “Medina has had a relapse. He should be out for another month. He is difficult to replace, both because of his character and his physical attributes.”

Medina’s injury troubles have been persistent since the season’s start, having previously injured his other ankle in August, which delayed his club debut until mid-September. His qualities—leadership, aggression, and the ability to initiate play from defence—are now sorely missed as Marseille enters one of the busiest periods of their season.

With both Aguerd and Medina unavailable, De Zerbi may need to rely heavily on players like Benjamin Pavard, CJ Egan-Riley, and Leonardo Balerdi, a rotation that poses risks given the stakes of the upcoming match.

Beyond defensive challenges, 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 on a dislocated right shoulder, an injury that was exacerbated during international duty with Algeria. His rehabilitation at Aspetar is progressing, but he is not expected back until January 2026. His absence has deprived Marseille of a versatile forward capable of linking play and breaking down defenses, a role that has proven difficult to fill consistently.

Traore’s situation is similarly concerning. The Ivorian has been sidelined since September with a persistent thigh injury, and despite attempts to return to light training, he has not experienced any alleviation of pain. De Zerbi recently admitted that “things are not progressing well,” leading the club to reassign a physiotherapist involved in his initial rehabilitation due to mismanagement of his recovery.

As a result of the injuries 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 has helped mitigate the impact of injuries by covering gaps on the right side, whether as a winger or wing-back. This adaptability has been crucial for Marseille in maintaining their attacking threat and squad balance during this challenging time.

Despite these challenges, Marseille demonstrated against Nice that they possess the offensive capabilities and collective resilience to achieve impressive results. However, the Champions League presents a different level of intensity, and without key players, De Zerbi must again turn to tactical flexibility and depth within the squad.