Moussa Niakhaté, the Olympique Lyonnais and Senegal centre-back, misses the trip to Real Sociedad with a muscle warning. His participation in the matches against Sudan on 12 and 16 November remains to be monitored.
Olympique Lyonnais travel to Real Sociedad this Thursday 5 November on matchday four of the Europa League (21:00), without Moussa Niakhaté or the forward Ernest Nuamah. The club confirmed the news through interim head coach Jorge Maciel, quoted by Get French Football News: both men are suffering from muscle warnings.
For the Senegalese centre-back, the question now goes beyond Lyon. Niakhaté is in Senegal’s squad to face Sudan on 12 and 16 November, according to OneFootball and Foot Mercato. His presence at that gathering remains to be monitored.
Maciel awaiting a medical update
On the absence of the pair, the interim coach spoke of muscle warnings. “We hope to have them back for Sunday’s match at Brest. We are waiting for an update; we don’t know yet whether they will be fit or not. We will see how things develop when we return to Lyon,” he said, according to Get French Football News.
The match at Brest on Sunday 8 November in Ligue 1 is therefore only a hope for the club, dependent on that medical assessment. Get French Football News also reports that the two players may not play in Ligue 1 again before the end of November, a scenario that remains to be confirmed.
A defence already depleted
Loïs Openda, Pavel Šulc, Mohamed Ouedraogo and Tyler Morton are also unavailable, all injured, according to the same source. Niakhaté’s absence weighs particularly heavily: the press describes him as the boss of Lyon’s defence, reports Made in Foot.
For Senegal, the stakes are different. Niakhaté is in the squad selected for the double-header against Sudan on 12 and 16 November. His participation is to be monitored as news comes out of Lyon.
Brest then Sudan in sight
The calendar comes thick and fast for Lyon: Real Sociedad this Thursday, then Brest on Sunday, before an international break. Niakhaté could be involved in that break if he is deemed fit, a decision that will depend on the medical update expected on the return to Lyon.