Marseille head to Troyes fearing relegation but Gouiri offers a glimmer of hope

Marseille arrive in Troyes on Sunday evening with anxiety in the dressing room, needing a win to keep any hope of climbing from the penultimate spot in Ligue 1. The Phocéens have only three points after five games and cannot afford any slip‑up against the newly promoted side.

Key absences threaten the midfield

Bruno Genesio will be without several regulars, most notably captain Timothy Weah, who serves a suspension, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who returns injured from international duty. Their absence forces the coach to reshuffle the central areas.

Gouiri’s chance to spark the attack

Amine Gouiri is the bright spot, confirmed as starter at the tip of the front line. The Olympian, who suffered a minor thigh issue during the international break, has been named in the squad and will lead the line alongside Igor Paixao on the left and Keyliane Abdallah on the right, with Angel Gomes supporting centrally.

In defence, Genesio is likely to field Tochukwu Nnadi and Himad Abdelli as holding midfielders, protecting a back four of Kelyann Bezahaf, C.J. Egan‑Riley, Nayef Aguerd and Emerson Palmieri. Jeffrey de Lange is expected to start in goal.

The probable line‑ups read: Troyes – Beach, Maronnier, Monfray, Diaz, Donkor; Mille, Diop, Karim; Ifnaoui, Le Douaron, Picard. Marseille – De Lange, Bezahaf, Egan‑Riley, Aguerd, Emerson; Abdelli, Nnadi; Abdallah, Gomes, Paixao; Gouiri.