Real/OM – Aguerd out, Marseille lose their defensive leader before Madrid

Victim of a head collision against Lorient, Nayef Aguerd has been placed under concussion protocol. The Moroccan international did not take part in Monday morning’s team training session and will have to withdraw from the trip to the Santiago Bernabéu. An absence that comes at the worst possible moment for OM.

An already indispensable leader

Having arrived this summer, Aguerd had kicked off his Olympian adventure perfectly against Lorient: a commanding performance and a goal scored in stoppage time. His aerial solidity and composure immediately reassured the Marseille defense. Seeing him miss the first major European clash highlights the importance already taken on by the former Rennes player.

A defense to rebuild

Without his new leader, Roberto De Zerbi will have to reshuffle his back line. According to L’Équipe, Leonardo Balerdi is expected to step in and form the central partnership with Benjamin Pavard. This choice would bring the Argentine captain back into the starting eleven, alongside Murillo and Medina, while Weah could again fill in as a defensive option on the left.

The squad selected for Spain includes the goalkeepers Rulli, De Lange, Van Neck and Blanco; in defense: Balerdi, Murillo, Pavard, García, Lirola, Egan-Riley, Emerson, Medina and Weah. In midfield: Vermeeren, Kondogbia, Nadir, Højbjerg, Angel Gomes, Bakola and O’Riley. In attack: Paixão, Aubameyang, Greenwood, Gouiri and Vaz.

An even tougher mission at the Bernabéu

Facing Real Madrid, already formidable with Mbappé, Vinicius and Arda Güler, was going to be a colossal challenge. Without Aguerd, the pressure on the Olympian defense will be even greater. The Moroccan’s absence will force OM to show impeccable collective discipline and to rely on the experience of Pavard and Kondogbia to secure the back line.

This setback does not erase the momentum created by the resounding victory over Lorient (4-0), but it serves as a reminder of just how much every detail matters at this level. The Bernabéu won’t wait, and OM will have to find the resources to compensate for this heavy blow.