Marseille Faces Injury Challenges Ahead of Champions League Clash

omidbasir- Marseille enters the midweek Champions League confrontation with Newcastle under significant pressure, with challenges intensifying amid injury concerns. The club has confirmed that defender Nayef Aguerd will miss the match due to persistent pubalgia discomfort, effectively ending hopes for a late recovery. The Moroccan center-back, who also missed the recent 5-1 victory over Nice, has been grappling with groin pain for several weeks. Medical staff have advised rest, particularly with the Africa Cup of Nations approaching in less than a month.

Aguerd’s absence further strains Marseille’s defensive options at a crucial juncture, as the team seeks to build meaningful momentum in Europe. After joining the Moroccan national team earlier this month, Aguerd was swiftly withdrawn from consideration for friendly matches and informed that he requires at least two weeks for recovery. He has privately acknowledged the inability to continue playing through the pain, prompting caution from both the club and national team.

Adding to Marseille’s woes is a setback for Argentine defender Lucas Medina. Already sidelined for nearly two months due to a right ankle sprain, Medina has suffered a relapse in his recovery and will not return until January. Coach Roberto De Zerbi candidly stated, “Medina has had a relapse. He should be out for another month. He is challenging to replace due to his character and physical attributes.”

Medina’s injury issues have plagued him since the season’s start, having injured his other ankle in August, which delayed his club debut until mid-September. His leadership, aggression, and ability to advance the ball from defense have been essential traits, which Marseille must now compensate for during their busiest period of the campaign.

With both Aguerd and Medina unavailable, De Zerbi may need to rely heavily on players such as Benjamin Pavard, CJ Egan-Riley, and Leonardo Balerdi, a rotation that may not be ideal given the stakes of the forthcoming match.

Beyond the immediate defensive concerns, Marseille is also missing two key attacking players, Amine Gouiri and Hamed Junior Traore. Gouiri, who has been out since early October, is recovering from surgery on a dislocated right shoulder—an injury exacerbated while on international duty with Algeria. Although his rehabilitation at Aspetar is progressing, he is not anticipated to return until January 2026. His absence has deprived Marseille of a versatile forward adept at linking play and penetrating defenses.

Traore’s situation is equally concerning. The Ivorian has been unavailable since September due to a lingering thigh injury. Despite efforts to resume light training, the pain has persisted. De Zerbi recently noted that “things are not progressing well,” and the club has changed the physiotherapist responsible for his initial rehabilitation due to mismanagement of his recovery.

In light of the injuries afflicting key forwards like Gouiri and Traore, De Zerbi is navigating this challenging phase by increasingly relying on players such as Timothy Weah and Mason Greenwood, rotating roles and adjusting formations as necessary. De Zerbi appreciates Weah’s versatility, which aids in mitigating the impact of injuries by filling gaps on the right flank as either a winger or wing-back. This adaptability has been vital for Marseille to maintain an attacking threat and overall squad balance amid numerous absences.

Despite these adversities, Marseille demonstrated against Nice that they possess the firepower and collective strength to deliver impactful performances. However, the Champions League presents a different level of intensity, and without key figures, De Zerbi will need to once again depend on tactical flexibility and the depth of his squad.