Marseille Faces Injury Challenges Ahead of Champions League Clash Against Newcastle

omidbasir- Marseille approaches the midweek Champions League encounter with Newcastle under considerable pressure, exacerbated by recent injury updates. The club has confirmed that defender Nayef Aguerd will miss the match due to persistent pubalgia discomfort, extinguishing any hopes for a late recovery. The Moroccan international, who also missed the 5-1 victory over Nice, has been struggling with groin pain for several weeks, and the medical team has advised him to rest, particularly with the Africa Cup of Nations approaching in less than a month.

Aguerd’s absence significantly impacts Marseille’s defensive resources at a critical juncture, as they seek to gain meaningful momentum in Europe. Although he travelled earlier this month to join the Moroccan national team, he was promptly withdrawn from consideration for friendly matches and has been instructed to undertake at least two weeks of recovery. The defender has privately acknowledged his inability to play through the pain, necessitating caution from both his club and national team.

Adding to Marseille’s woes is a setback concerning Argentine center-back Facundo Medina. Injured for nearly two months due to a right ankle sprain, Medina has suffered a relapse and will not return until January. 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 due to his character and physical attributes.”

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

With both Aguerd and Medina absent, De Zerbi may have to heavily rely on Benjamin Pavard, CJ Egan-Riley, and Leonardo Balerdi, a rotation that is far from ideal given the stakes of the upcoming match.

In addition to defensive concerns, Marseille is also missing key attacking players Amine Gouiri and Hamed Junior Traore. Gouiri has been sidelined since early October following surgery for a dislocated right shoulder, an injury that worsened during international duty with Algeria. His rehabilitation at Aspetar is progressing, but 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.

Traore’s situation is similarly troubling; the Ivorian has been out since September due to a persistent thigh injury. Despite attempts to resume light training, the pain has not subsided. De Zerbi recently remarked that “things are not progressing well,” and the club has reassigned a physiotherapist initially responsible for his rehabilitation due to mishandling the recovery process.

Given the injury challenges facing key forwards like Gouiri and Traore, De Zerbi is navigating this difficult period by increasingly relying on players such as Timothy Weah and Mason Greenwood, adjusting roles and formations as needed. Weah’s versatility has proven invaluable, allowing the team to maintain attacking threats and squad balance despite the absences.

Despite these adversities, Marseille displayed their offensive capabilities in the match against Nice, demonstrating their potential for significant performances. However, the Champions League presents a different level of intensity, and without key figures, De Zerbi must again leverage tactical adaptability and squad depth to navigate the challenges ahead.