Ibrahim Maza a doubt for Leverkusen’s Europa League opener

Ibrahim Maza is a doubt for Bayer Leverkusen’s Europa League opener against NK Celje after missing training because of flu.

The German side are due to host Celje at the BayArena in their opening match of the European campaign, but Maza’s involvement remains uncertain as the club waits to assess his condition.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has featured regularly since the beginning of the season and has become an important option for Leverkusen.

However, his absence from the latest training session has left the club’s coaching staff facing a late decision over whether he will be fit enough to play.

Leverkusen coach Carles Martinez Novell said the Algerian international’s condition would be monitored before the match.

“He couldn’t train because he’s sick. We play tomorrow night. We’ll see how he feels today and tomorrow. If he’s able to play, he’ll play, but we have to wait,” he explained.

Martinez Novell also declined to provide further details about his starting line-up, meaning Maza’s availability is likely to remain unclear until close to kick-off.

The midfielder’s illness comes at an important point in the season, with Leverkusen beginning their European campaign at home against Celje.

Maza has gradually increased his importance within the Leverkusen setup despite his age. His regular involvement since the start of the campaign has made his fitness a significant issue ahead of the match.

The club must now wait to see whether he recovers sufficiently from the flu to take part.

For Maza, the immediate priority is to regain his fitness before the final decision is made. If he is considered ready to play, he could feature in Leverkusen’s first European fixture of the season.

If he is not fully recovered, the coaching staff will have to make other plans for the attacking midfield position.

The situation remains open because the decision will depend on how Maza feels in the hours leading up to the game.

Leverkusen are preparing for their first Europa League match of the campaign, while Maza remains one of the players whose involvement is yet to be confirmed.

The Algerian international’s progress will therefore be closely monitored as kick-off approaches.

With no final decision yet made, Maza will have to wait to discover whether he can take his place in the Leverkusen team against Celje.

The final answer is expected shortly before the match at the BayArena, when the club determines whether the young midfielder has recovered sufficiently to play.