Olympique Lyonnais forward Pavel Šulc sustained a muscle injury during Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to RC Strasbourg Alsace, casting doubt over his availability for next weekend’s Olympico against Olympique de Marseille – according to RMC Sport.
Lyon saw their 13-game winning streak come to an abrupt end in eastern France, but the greater concern for Paulo Fonseca may be the fitness of his top scorer. Šulc was forced off after just 28 minutes at the Stade de la Meinau, clutching the back of his thigh.
Speaking post-match to Ligue1+, Fonseca confirmed that the Czech international is dealing with a “muscular problem at the back of the thigh.” The 25-year-old is set to undergo medical examinations on Monday to determine the severity of the issue.
The timing could hardly be worse. Lyon currently sit third in Ligue 1 with 45 points, five clear of Marseille, and travel to the Stade Vélodrome on Sunday evening (20:45 CET) in a fixture that could prove decisive in the race for Champions League qualification.
Šulc has been central to Lyon’s resurgence this season. Signed last summer from Viktoria Plzeň for €7.5 million, he has registered 13 goals and seven assists in 31 appearances across all competitions, quickly establishing himself as one of the most influential attacking players in the division.
He notably scored the winner in the reverse fixture against Marseille at the Groupama Stadium on 31 August in his first goal for the club.GFFN | George Boxall