Marseille midfielder Karim Ziani has been sidelined with a knee injury and is expected to be out of action for just over two weeks.

While an MRI scan did not reveal any harm to the Algeria international's cartilage, he has sustained minor ligament damage.

And that means he will now miss Sunday's Ligue 1 clash with Nice as well as the UEFA Cup tie against Spartak Moscow the week after.

The 25-year-old - who was linked with a move away from the Stade Velodrome last month - could however return for Marseille's crunch league clash with bitter rivals Paris St Germain on February 17.

Marseille currently lie ninth in the Ligue 1 table, three points ahead of PSG who are in 12th place. Both clubs are struggling to recover from below-par starts to the season.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport