Marseille Face FC Nantes Without Two New Signings

Olympique de Marseille enters its match against FC Nantes on Saturday, May 2, 2026, grappling with a depleted squad and internal volatility. The club’s group for the encounter at the Stade de la Beaujoire is notably missing two key figures: goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli and midfielder Himad Abdelli.

The absences come at a critical juncture for the Marseillais, who currently sit in 6th place in Ligue 1 with 53 points. To maintain any hope of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, Habib Beye’s side must secure a victory today and avoid further setbacks in the final three matches of the season. They currently trail 4th-place Lille and 3rd-place Lyon by four points.

Internal Friction and Disciplinary Action

The exclusion of Himad Abdelli is the result of a deteriorating relationship between the player and manager Habib Beye. According to reporting from La Provence, Abdelli was sidelined due to a combination of poor performance and a heated confrontation in the dressing room following a 1-1 draw against Nice.

Reports indicate the tension reached a breaking point during a verbal clash where the manager criticized the midfielder’s lack of involvement during Nice’s equalizing goal. During the exchange, Abdelli reportedly responded to Beye by stating, T’es pas mon père (You are not my father).

This disciplinary measure adds to a climate of internal instability that has plagued the squad in recent weeks. Marseille has managed only one victory in its last five outings, leading to what local media has described as a volatile atmosphere within the camp.

Squad Crisis and Defensive Shortages

The absence of Gerónimo Rulli further complicates Beye’s selections. While the club did not provide an immediate official explanation in the initial squad list, Foot Mercato reports that the Argentine goalkeeper is injured. His absence marks a return to the starting role for Jeffrey De Lange, who has not started a match since a 5-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.

The personnel crisis extends deep into the defensive line. Marseille is missing several key players due to injury and suspension, including:

• Benjamin Pavard (Suspended)
• Timothy Weah (Suspended)
• Nayef Aguerd (Injured)
• Geoffrey Kondogbia (Injured)
• CJ Egan Riley (Injured)
• Bilal Nadir (Injured)

The shortage of available professionals has forced Beye to rely heavily on the club’s youth academy. The squad announced for the trip to Nantes includes only five defenders, necessitating the call-up of reserve players Bezahaf and Hamzaoui from the National 3 squad. Foot Mercato reports that the team effectively has only three professional defenders available for the match.

The Road to the Podium

Despite the chaos, there are minor positives. Manager Habib Beye recently confirmed the return to training for Igor Paixão and Amine Gouiri, both of whom have been reintegrated into the group. Mason Greenwood is also expected to return to the starting lineup after being benched during the draw with Nice.

The stakes for today’s 15:00 kick-off are starkly different for the two opponents. While Marseille fights for a podium finish and European glory, FC Nantes is fighting for its survival in the top flight. Currently 17th with 20 points, the Canaris are the first team in the relegation zone and are five points adrift of the relegation play-off spot.

For the Olympiens, the match at the Beaujoire represents the first step in a mandatory “perfect run” through their final three fixtures against Nantes, Le Havre and Rennes. Failure to secure three points today could effectively end their pursuit of the Champions League.