Lyon Midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles Out for 2 Weeks Before Celta Vigo Europa League Match

Lyon's midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles is out for about two weeks with an injury, missing key Europa League games. This is a big problem for the team.
By Newsroom | Football, Europe |

Ainsley Maitland-Niles, a midfielder for Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon), is slated to miss the upcoming Europa League knockout round against Celta Vigo. The player is reportedly sidelined for approximately two weeks due to an adductor injury. This absence raises questions about his availability for the crucial Round of 16 tie, which features two legs against the Spanish club.

Lyon’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles to miss Europa League knockout round tie against Celta Vigo - 1

Further compounding Lyon's midfield concerns, several other players are also facing spells on the sidelines. Youngsters Malick Fofana, Ernest Nuamah, and Afonso Moreira, along with Pavel Šulc and Ruben Kluivert, are expected to be unavailable for the immediate future. Additionally, Hateboer and Noham Kamara are ineligible for the Europa League fixture as they are not registered on UEFA's official list.

Lyon’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles to miss Europa League knockout round tie against Celta Vigo - 2

Club Schedule and Player Status

Lyon's fixture list shows upcoming matches against Celta Vigo on March 12th and March 19th, 2026, for the Europa League final stages. The league game against Le Havre on March 15th is also in doubt for Maitland-Niles. This period follows a series of mixed results for Lyon in Ligue 1, including a loss to Strasbourg, a defeat against Marseille, and draws against Lens and Paris FC. Pavel Šulc is noted as Lyon's leading scorer in league play with 10 goals.

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Background

Olympique Lyonnais, commonly referred to as Lyon or OL, is a French football club based in Décines-Charpieu, playing its home games at Groupama Stadium. The club is recognized as one of France's more successful teams. News reports indicate ongoing coverage of Lyon's activities, including Ligue 1 matches, transfers, and player updates. Recent results from November 9, 2025, mention a 3-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. The Europa League draw placed other French clubs, such as Lille OSC and OGC Nice, in various stages of European competition. Lille faced Red Star Belgrade in the play-offs and later Aston Villa in the Round of 16, while Nice had already been eliminated from the Europa League.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why will Ainsley Maitland-Niles miss the Europa League match against Celta Vigo?
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has an adductor injury that will keep him out for about two weeks. This means he cannot play in the important Europa League games against Celta Vigo on March 12th and March 19th, 2026.
Q: How long is Ainsley Maitland-Niles expected to be out?
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is expected to be sidelined for approximately two weeks due to his adductor injury.
Q: Which other Lyon players are unavailable for the Celta Vigo match?
Besides Maitland-Niles, Malick Fofana, Ernest Nuamah, Afonso Moreira, Pavel Šulc, and Ruben Kluivert are also injured. Hateboer and Noham Kamara cannot play because they are not on the official UEFA list.
Q: Will Maitland-Niles also miss the Lyon vs Le Havre league game?
Yes, the league game against Le Havre on March 15th is also in doubt for Ainsley Maitland-Niles because of his injury.
Q: What are Lyon's recent results before the Celta Vigo match?
Lyon has had mixed results recently, including a loss to Strasbourg, a defeat against Marseille, and draws against Lens and Paris FC. They also lost 3-2 to Paris Saint-Germain on November 9, 2025.