News Focus
- Marseille confirm season-ending absences for two first-team stars
- Hamed Junior Traoré set for surgery in Finland on adductor problem
- Nayef Aguerd returns to Morocco to continue recovery from March operation
- Seventh-placed OM face uphill battle to secure European football next term
Olympique de Marseille face a difficult end to their campaign after confirming two key players will miss the remaining fixtures. The French side currently sit seventh in Ligue 1 with just two matches left to play.
The club cannot catch third-placed Olympique Lyonnais in the table. They also trail fourth-placed Lille OSC by five points. Only the top four teams will qualify for European competitions next season.
To secure any form of continental football, Les Olympiens must win their remaining games. They also require RC Lens to defeat OGC Nice in the Coupe de France final.
The injury news adds to their problems. Midfielder Hamed Junior Traoré will travel to Finland for surgery on an adductor injury. The club confirmed he will not return to the pitch this term.
Defender Nayef Aguerd is also unavailable. The Morocco international has battled muscle problems throughout the campaign. He underwent an operation for pubalgia in March and will continue his rehabilitation in his home country. The centre-back hopes to regain full fitness before this summer’s FIFA World Cup.