the group for the trip to Basel without Alvaro or Payet

This Thursday (at 6.45 p.m.), Olympique de Marseille will try to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Europa League Conference, beating Basel. Winners 2-1 in the first leg, the Marseillais will have to compose without Dimitri Payet, suspended for the occasion.

Like Stade Rennais, Olympique de Marseille will try to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League. By winning the first leg 2-1 against Basel at the Vélodrome, the Phocaeans have accomplished the first part of the job. In addition, Jorge Sampaoli’s troops have gained confidence, with this big victory in the league against Brest (1-4), last weekend.

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To ensure qualification, it is a group of 21 players on which the Argentinian technician can count. Suspended for this meeting, the absence of Dimitri Payet is a big blow for the second in Ligue 1. The men in form Cengiz Ünder, Boubacar Kamara and Gerson are present for this match, which promises to be tricky for the Marseillais.

Absent Alvaro

Like last weekend, Alvaro Gonzalez is not present in the group although he is not injured. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Spanish defender isn’t in Sampaoli’s plans. An indisputable starter during his first two years in France, the 32-year-old has six appearances in Ligue 1 this season.

Pushed towards the exit last January, the former Villarreal denounced to Marca, a lack of respect on the part of his club: « If I don’t play, I can’t be well. I’m not going through my best moment (…) I did everything so that everyone could be registered. From that moment, they began to belittle me in an incomprehensible way. » Since these remarks, Alvaro’s situation has not really improved. His last appearance dates back to February 24, against Qarabag.