As this weekend’s Le Classique nears, Olympique de Marseille hoped the international break would bring some rest and recovery for a squad that had begun to flag. Instead, Jean-Louis Gasset’s squad will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the middle of an injury crisis with nine players out injured.
Pape Gueye (25) and Ismaïla Sarr (26) returned to Marseille this weekend from international duty with Senegal, but according to L’Équipe, the reports from their medical staff were not promising.
Gueye did not play a minute for Senegal in their 3-0 victory over Gabon on Friday evening after he withdrew due to pain in his left calf. Something that had prevented him from completing his last two training sessions with Marseille. An ultrasound has revealed a small lesion which they believe will heal quickly and could allow him to return to training soon.
On the other hand, Sarr started for Senegal but was substituted in the 73rd minute, tests have shown that he is suffering from a deeper injury to his hamstring on his left thigh. At the minimum, it will take him at least 10 days to recover.
Ulisses Garcia (28) representing Switzerland was unable to play in their 0-0 draw against Denmark and left his national team early after reporting abductor pain. L’Équipe further states that it will likely take treatment for him to solve his discomfort.
As was earlier reported, there is a severe crisis in the centre of defence for Gasset as Bamo Meïté (22) was injured in Marseille’s Friday training session. Like Samuel Gigot (30), he will likely be ruled out for the rest of the season, leaving the manager with only Chancel Mbemba (29) and Leonardo Balerdi (25) in the centre of defence.
The list of players out for the rest of the season only grew further today with Valentin Rongier highly suspected to be unable to recover before the last game of the campaign on the 18th of May. While Bilal Nadir (20) and Michael Amir Murillo (28) have been confirmed to be out until next season.
Finally, Jean Onana (24), who reported a muscular injury before the international break, is a doubt for the game on Sunday, as it is thought he will likely not recover before the end of the week.
Marseille injury list
Pape Gueye
Ismaïla Sarr
Ulisses Garcia
Samuel Gigot
Bamo Meïté
Bilal Nadir
Micahel Amir Murillo
Jean Onana
Valentin Rongier
GFFN | Nick Hartland