Mason Greenwood faces injury setback after Marseille defeat
Mason Greenwood is set to spend time on the sidelines following an injury sustained during Marseille’s 2-1 home defeat to Lille on Sunday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The 24-year-old forward was substituted early in the match after being struck by a heavy challenge from Lille’s Hakon Haraldsson, leaving him in significant discomfort.
Marseille manager Habib Beye confirmed that Greenwood will undergo a medical assessment today. “The impact was quite violent; he was in a lot of pain because of the double impact,” Beye remarked at the post-match press conference.
Adding to the situation, Greenwood also received his fifth yellow card of the season, which will result in him being suspended for the upcoming fixture against Monaco following the international break.
The incident occurred just twelve minutes into the match when Greenwood was played behind Lille’s defensive line. Lille defender Calvin Verdonk brought him down cynically to halt the fast break. In a moment of frustration, Greenwood confronted Verdonk, resulting in a significant blow from Haraldsson, who charged in from behind and knocked Greenwood to the ground.
As chaos unfolded near the technical areas, players from both teams converged, forcing referee Benoit Bastien to restore order before issuing yellow cards to all three players involved. Beye expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating, suggesting that Haraldsson’s challenge deserved a more severe penalty. “The intervention from Haraldsson was uncontrolled, aggressive and violent,” he stated. “If it takes a punch for there to be a red, OK – but this violence must be punished.”
Beye also commented on Greenwood’s reaction, which he interpreted as stemming from fear rather than aggression, making the equal punishment seem unjust. Following Greenwood’s exit, Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri came on as a substitute and scored, putting Marseille ahead just before halftime.
However, Marseille could not hold onto their lead. Thomas Meunier equalized shortly after the second half began, and Olivier Giroud secured the victory for Lille late in the game with a header. The defeat marked a significant blow for Marseille, with Greenwood having emerged as their top scorer this season, netting fifteen times in twenty-six league appearances.
This latest setback raises questions about Marseille’s future performances as they adjust to life without their leading forward, particularly in a competitive Ligue 1 landscape where every match is critical.
