Moroccan central defender Nayef Aguerd will miss Olympique de Marseille’s trip to Madrid to face Real Madrid in the Champions League. After suffering a head injury during the match against Lorient on Friday, Aguerd is following a strict concussion protocol that prevents him from participating in this opening group stage game.
On his social media, the former Rennes player posted a message to Marseille supporters explaining that his absence is mandated by medical concussion regulations: « Dear supporters, following a hit during the last match against Lorient, a ‘concussion protocol’ has been put in place as stated by the rules. Therefore, I will not be able to travel to Madrid with my teammates. I will be wholeheartedly behind them for this first day of the Champions League ».
This absence is a blow to OM’s defense, which had counted on Aguerd to score from the start with the club, with a decisive goal against Lorient. Marseille coach Robert De Zerbi is expected to pair Leonardo Balerdi with Benjamin Pavard in central defense, although Balerdi has also suffered foot pain in recent days.
Additionally, the Marseille squad will also be without Hamed Junior Traoré, who is out due to a thigh injury. The stakes are even higher for OM since this match at Santiago Bernabéu is the team’s first major European fixture of the season, where the Phocaean side hopes to confirm its ambitions on the international stage despite these important absences.