After an explosive victory in Brest to start the season (1-5) and then a somewhat worrying defensive draw at the Vélodrome against Reims (2-2), Roberto De Zerbi’s OM will have to do without Leonardo Balerdi, its defensive leader and captain. The Argentinian international finished last Sunday’s match with pain in his right thigh and “The tests carried out showed an injury to the quadriceps of the right thigh”as indicated in a press release from the club.
Balerdi is thus out of the third day of Ligue 1 against Toulouse, Saturday evening (9 p.m.) at the Stadium, and will not join the Albiceleste gathering. Lionel Scaloni had called him up for the international window and matches against Chile and Colombia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the South American zone.
OM with a Brassier-Cornelius defense
“The length of his absence will depend on his progress.”as OM specifies, but if Balerdi is the victim of a muscle tear, he will not resume until two weeks, just before the reception of Nice, on September 15. The 25-year-old central defender, who became the boss of his team during last season, should at least be operational for the clash against OL, on the 22nd at the Groupama Stadium.
In the absence of Leo Balerdi, it is the Canadian international Derek Cornelius, recruited from Malmö, who will be associated with Lilian Brassier in central hinge. While waiting for an arrival, Amir Murillo plays on the right of a three-man defense in the offensive phase. Pol Lirola and Quentin Merlin took the corridor to turn into left winger against Stade Brestois and Stade de Reims, Luis Henrique, the left midfielder in the defensive phase, inserting himself inside the game, left axis.
