Olympique de Marseille is set to face Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday without the services of captain Leonardo Balerdi, as confirmed by head coach Roberto De Zerbi during his pre-match press conference. Balerdi, who has been dealing with a minor calf issue, is part of a growing list of injured players that includes Hamed Jr. Traoré, Amine Gouiri, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Facundo Medina, and Timothy Weah, who sustained an injury during Saturday’s match against Lens.
De Zerbi reassured fans that Balerdi’s condition is not critical but emphasized the team’s cautious approach. “It’s nothing too serious, but he already had a small calf issue before the Lens game. We don’t want to take any risks, so he won’t even be on the bench,” De Zerbi stated.
Reports suggest that Balerdi will be sidelined for at least a week, which raises concerns about his availability for the upcoming fixtures, including a match against Auxerre on Sunday and a crucial Champions League clash against Italian side Atalanta in early November.
While the absence of key players poses a challenge for Marseille, the team remains focused on adapting and overcoming these setbacks. The resilience and depth of the squad will be put to the test in the coming weeks, but with a game plan in place, fans can remain hopeful for positive outcomes.