Mbia adds to Marseille woes
MARSEILLE - Olympique Marseille midfielder Stephane Mbia could be out until the middle of May with a leg injury, further weakening the French champions as they aim to go top with a home win over Nice on Wednesday.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qvYScc5rjgTYwX65CP3Yje.jpg)
Long-time leaders Lille's 1-1 draw at FC Lorient on Sunday, the third league game in a row they have failed to win, means Marseille can take over at the top by a point with six matches left with victory in their game in hand.
"The news is not good. Mbia has a problem with his adductor muscle, he is not set to return until mid-May," Marseille coach Didier Deschamps told reporters on Monday.
The injury to the influential Cameroon midfielder comes when Marseille are battling potentially crippling suspensions.
Striker Loic Remy will again be banned against Nice while defender Taye Taiwo, who scored the only goal in Saturday's League Cup final win over Montpellier, could face a maximum six-game suspension.
After the final, the Nigerian chanted a song including an expletive insulting rivals Paris Saint-Germain but it is unclear when the French league will rule on his case.
"In that atmosphere, I sang with the fans not really knowing what I was saying," Taiwo told reporters on Monday having already apologised to PSG.
Charles Kabore also picked up a booking on Saturday and must serve a suspension, although he looks set to be available against Nice with his ban likely to come into force in the May 7 clash against title rivals Olympique Lyon.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Third-placed Lyon, seven points behind Lille, also have a game in hand, at home to Montpellier on Wednesday.
![LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Thierry Henry and Ray Parlour of Arsenal with the Premier League trophy after the match between Arsenal and Leicester City in the Premier League at Highbury on May 15, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cny2ryN67xNSodDtmtvUUh-840-80.jpg)
‘He could have been another Thierry Henry if he’d stayed at Arsenal. It was up to him what he wanted because he was 6ft 1in, quick and unbelievable’: Ray Parlour claims Champions League winner could have enjoyed even greater success with Gunners
![Marcus Rashford is presented as an Aston Villa player in February 2025 after his loan move from Manchester United.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/osp3DXXKWWAMByKt7GzNnk-840-80.jpg)
‘I don’t think we’ll see Marcus Rashford at Manchester United again – when you’re not seeing eye to eye with a manager, it can hinder your training, but a loan can work, it did for me’ Ex-Premier League star on parallels with forward’s Aston Villa switch