Left out of the professional squad for a week, Keyliane Abdallah, the Marseille winger, returned to training with the first team on Monday. He is expected to be part of the trip to Leverkusen on Thursday in the Europa League, a match Marseille must win at all costs.
According to La Provence, relayed by So Foot, Le Phocéen and Maxifoot, Keyliane Abdallah returned to training with the Olympique de Marseille first-team squad on Monday, after a week spent with the reserves. The young winger had been demoted following a decision by the coach.
The sanction dates back to the day after Marseille’s victory over Le Havre (4-3). According to So Foot and Footballdatabase, Bruno Genesio, the Marseille coach, took it because of a disappointing substitute appearance. During his spell away, the player featured in two matches with Romain Ferrier’s reserve side, the reserve-team coach, in the Challenge Espoirs and in National 2, reports Le Phocéen.
A return that comes at the right time
The reinstatement comes just days before a decisive fixture. According to So Foot and Maxifoot, Keyliane Abdallah is expected to be part of the trip to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday 5 November in the Europa League (matchday 4). These details remain unconfirmed.
Marseille’s schedule offers little respite. After Leverkusen, Marseille travel to Lens on Sunday in Ligue 1, just three days later.
Three starts, one goal
On the European stage, Keyliane Abdallah has made three starts in three Europa League matches. According to Footmarseille and So Foot, he scored Marseille’s only goal in the competition, against Besiktas.
In Ligue 1, Maxifoot records 8 appearances and 1 goal for the player this season. Aged 19 according to So Foot, he would be 20 according to Maxifoot.
Leverkusen, a do-or-die match
For a player who has already scored in the Europa League, this fixture against Bayer Leverkusen takes on another dimension. According to So Foot, Marseille are on a run of three defeats in three matches in the competition and must win at all costs to stay in the race for qualification.
His return to training with the first-team squad, reported by La Provence, does not guarantee him a place on the pitch in Germany, however. Kick-off is scheduled for Thursday 5 November.