Four days after a clean 2-0 win over Toulouse in Ligue 1, Marseille travel to Leverkusen for a Europa League fixture that finds them in a very different position: bottom of the 36-team league stage with zero points from three matches and one goal scored. Bruno Génésio’s side have shown they can perform domestically, but their European campaign has been a write-off so far, three defeats and a minus-five goal difference. Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, arrive at the BayArena sitting second in the standings on nine points, unbeaten in the competition, and looking to put a 2-4 Bundesliga home defeat to Stuttgart behind them.
What’s at stake
The Europa League’s new 36-team league stage sends the top eight directly into the round of 16, while teams ranked ninth through 24th enter a knockout playoff round. Bayer Leverkusen are second on nine points from three matches, level on points with Benfica at the summit and three ahead of the cluster chasing the top eight. A fourth win would put Carles Martínez’s side in a commanding position to secure a direct last-16 berth. For Marseille, the picture is starker: sitting 34th with zero points, they are outside the 24 qualifying places and have not yet earned a single point in Europe this season.
A Leverkusen win here simply cements their standing near the top of the table. For Marseille, three points would at least open a path back into the qualifying zone, though they would need substantial help from results elsewhere. A fourth consecutive Europa League defeat would leave Génésio’s squad with a mountain to climb in the second half of the stage.
How they got here
Leverkusen’s Europa League form reads WWW, all three victories recorded without conceding a single goal. That spotless defensive record in the competition stands in contrast to their Bundesliga run, where they have dropped back-to-back league matches, losing 0-3 at Hoffenheim and then shipping four at home to Stuttgart last weekend. The DFB Pokal has offered some relief, a 5-2 win over Nürnberg sandwiched between those league setbacks. Marseille’s last five across all competitions reads W, W, L, W, L. The two wins came in Ligue 1, including that 4-3 thriller over Le Havre and the more composed effort against Toulouse. Their Europa League losses came against Olympiakos at home and Sturm Graz away, both by a single goal.
Leverkusen are second in the Europa League table on nine points, sharing that total with Benfica, Bournemouth, and Ferencvarosi TC. Marseille are 34th, three points behind the last qualifying spot, which currently belongs to AC Milan and Hoffenheim on three points apiece.
Key battle to watch
Marseille’s ability to press and transition quickly has been the engine behind their domestic results, but Leverkusen’s midfield, anchored by Aleix García and Robert Andrich, is built to absorb pressure and recycle possession efficiently. Pierre Højbjerg will carry much of the defensive responsibility for Génésio in the middle of the park, and how well he can disrupt Leverkusen’s build-up will go a long way toward deciding whether Marseille’s attack, led by Amine Gouiri and Igor Paixão, sees enough of the ball to threaten. If Leverkusen’s midfield wins that duel cleanly, the hosts should control the tempo without difficulty.
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Our Prediction
Leverkusen’s European form has been excellent, three wins, no goals conceded, and home advantage adds another layer of comfort. Marseille have shown fight in Ligue 1 but have yet to click in this competition, and travelling to BayArena with zero points on the board is a tall ask. Expect Leverkusen to control large stretches of this match and collect a fourth consecutive Europa League win, though Marseille’s forwards are capable of making the scoreline more respectable than their standing suggests.