Bayer Leverkusen's winning start to UEFA Europa League ended by Marseille

Bayer Leverkusen lost for the first time in this season's UEFA Europa League, going down 1-0 to French outfit Marseille at the BayArena.

Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 Marseille
Goals: 0-1 Gouiri 77'

Leverkusen started the day second in the league-phase table after wins over Celje, Lech Poznań and OFI Crete, but had Mark Flekken to thank for keeping Marseille at bay early on, as the Dutchman got the better of Amine Gouiri in a one-on-one situation.

Miguel Gutiérrez struck the woodwork via a deflection with Bayer's best chance of the first half, while Patrik Schick headed over from 10 yards in the second.

Marseille - who had arrived in Germany on a three-match losing run in Europe - responded in kind as Geoffrey Kondogbia tested Flekken, before Gouiri went one better with a decisive finish into the far corner.

Despite the result, Leverkusen remain in the automatic knockout phase qualification places ahead of a trip to Dinamo Zagreb on 26 November.

As it happened!

0 - 1

(0 - 0)

Leverkusen

FINAL

Marseille

Europa League
League phase, Matchday 4 League phase, Matchday 4 BayArena

Full-time: Leverkusen 0-1 Marseille

Leverkusen suffer their first defeat in the Europe League this season. The decisive moment came in the 77th minute, when Gouiri curled a wonderful shot beyond Flekken and into the back of the net. The result means Bayer drop down to seventh in the league phase table, with nine points from their opening four matches.

© IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

Full-time

90'

+ 3

Schick denied!

In the final minute of play. Fernández whips in a free kick from the left side. Schick gets on the end of it in the Marseille box, but can't quite generate enough power on the header - allowing Lange to hold onto the ball. That might be that...

90'

+ 1

Nnadi booked

The Marseille sub picks up a late yellow card for a rush challenge on Quansah.

90'

Yellow card

Tochukwu Nnadi

90'

Added time

There will be an additional four minutes of play. Leverkusen still have time to score an equaliser.

88'

Over from Tapsoba

The Leverkusen defender gets on the end of a deep cross inside the six-yard box, but cannot get his header on target. It simply hasn't been their night so far.

Potential match winner makes way

Gouiri has departed the pitch after his brilliant strike. Former Brighton and Everton forward Maupay has replaced him for the final few minutes, with Koum also coming on for Garcia.

© IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

84'

Substitution

Neal Maupay

Amine Gouiri

84'

Substitution

Alexi Koum

Ulisses Garcia

83'

Die Werkself push forward

It's currently one-way traffic as Leverkusen push for an equaliser. They still lack killer instinct in attack, with Schick starved of quality service.

80'

Hosts react

Tillman and Culbreath are on to try and turn the tide for Leverkusen.

79'

Substitution

Malik Tillman

Ibrahim Maza

79'

Substitution

Montrell Culbreath

Jonas Hofmann

Marseille take the lead!

That's a goal worthy of winning any game! Gouiri collects the ball down the left channel, cuts inside and curls it into the far corner of the net from just outside the Leverkusen box. Flekken got a hand to the ball, but couldn't quite keep it out. It's 0-1 with less than 15 minutes of normal play remaining.

© UWE KRAFT

77'

Amine Gouiri

GOAL!

0:1

75'

Leverkusen frustrated

The hosts still cannot find any gaps in the Marseille gaps. It's proving to be a frustrating half for Martínez's side.

72'

Marseille changes

Nnadi and Mmadi are on for Marseille, with Paixão and Kondogbia making way.

71'

Substitution

Tochukwu Nnadi

Geoffrey Kondogbia

71'

Substitution

Tadjidine Mmadi

Igor Paixão

68'

Double substitution

Fernández and Moreira are on for the final 20 minutes or so. Can they help Leverkusen create a winner?

67'

Substitution

Ezequiel Fernández

Robert Andrich

67'

Substitution

Afonso Moreira

Lucas Vázquez

65'

Not far away!

Tapsoba's headed clearance inside his own box goes straight to Kondogbia, who decides to shoot first time from around 20 yards out. His powerful drive beats Flekken, but narrowly flashes wide of the right-hand post.

61'

Tame from Andrich

The Leverkusen man lets fly from around 25 yards out. However, his shot is easily held by Marseille keeper Lange.

Flekken called into action

Gouiri takes a shot from a narrow angle on the half volley. He forces a decent stop from Flekken, who has to turn the ball away for a corner.

© UWE KRAFT

56'

Schick heads over

The resulting free kick from García goes into a dangerous area, but Schick can't keep his header down from around 10 yards out.

55'

Garcia booked

The Marseille defender gives away a free kick deep inside his own half after treading on the foot of Schick. He also picks up a yellow card.

54'

Yellow card

Ulisses Garcia

52'

Quansah resumes

As expected, he is back on the pitch and straight back into the action.

50'

Issue for Quansah?

The Leverkusen defender is on the ground receiving treatment after getting struck in the face. He looks like he'll be fine to continue, however.

47'

The ball is rolling

Leverkusen get the game going again. Both sides are unchanged.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Leverkusen 0-0 Marseille

Neither side have been able to find a breakthrough goal after a fairly even 45 minutes. Gouiri came closest to scoring for the visitors early on after forcing a solid stop from Flekken. Gutiérrez then rattled the crossbar for Bayer after his goalward effort took a massive deflection. It sets up an intriguing second half, as either side could win this one.

© Alex Grimm

Half-time

45'

Deflected wide

Quansah ventures forward and shoots from range. This shot also takes a wicked deflection off a defender and whizzes just wide of the post. In other news, there will be an additional minute of play at the end of the half.

43'

Off the bar!

Almost a breakthrough from the hosts, who go down the other end of the pitch and create their biggest chance of the game. Hofmann finds Gutiérrez, whose shot from the edge of the box takes a big deflection and rattles the crossbar.

40'

Strong finish to the half

Marseille have wrestled the ball away from Leverkusen and are currently probing for any defensive gaps to exploit. Bayer, for the time being at least, are withstanding the pressure admirably.

39'

First yellow card for Marseille

Paixão strikes Vázquez with his arm in a duel and is booked.

38'

Yellow card

Igor Paixão

37'

Penalty appeal

Paixão floats a corner into the Bayer box and Aguerd's goalward header strikes the arm of Tapsoba on the way through. Marseille appeal for a spot kick, but the referee waves play on after a brief VAR check.

34'

Straight at the keeper

Maza plays a clever give-and-go with Schick and shoots from just outside the Marseille area. However, his side-footed effort is far too close to the keeper to cause him problems.

32'

Much better from the hosts

Leverkusen are just starting to get their passing game going again after a tricky spell. A handful of crosses have been fired into the Marseille box in the last few moments - all of which have evaded Schick. Die Werkself are well on top now.

28'

Corner kick

After 27 minutes, we finally have the first corner kick of the match. García's ball in finds its way to Quansah at the back post, but the England international's shot balloons well over the crossbar from around six yards out.

24'

Wasteful from Maza

Vásquez does very well to get to the byline down the right channel, before offloading the ball to Maza. However, the youngster can't sort out his feet and is swiftly dispossessed inside the Marseille box. It's been that sort of game for the home side so far.

Twenty minute mark

Leverkusen are yet to register a shot at goal, despite enjoying more of the ball.

© UWE KRAFT

19'

Effective press

Marseille are are putting the hosts under sustained pressure when they have the ball with a suffocating press. So far, it's providing to be very effective, as Bayer can't get their passing game going.

15'

Even contest

Both sides have had plenty of the ball in the opening 15 minutes. However, the only chance of note remains Gouiri's moment of magic.

11'

Final ball missing

Leverkusen have looked decent on the ball so far, but are yet to create anything of note in the final third.

Gouiri denied!

Leverkusen are opened up by a sublime bit of skill from Gouiri. A long ball finds the attacker inside the Bayer penalty area, who audaciously chests it down before nutmegging Quansah. He then has a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper, but Flekken does well to smother his shot.

© UWE KRAFT

7'

Gutiérrez booked

The Spaniard is brandished a yellow card for halting a promising Marseille counter attack.

6'

Yellow card

Miguel Gutiérrez

4'

Early possession

The hosts are trying to impose themselves in the opening moments with a decent spell of possession.

1'

We're underway!

The ball is rolling in Leverkusen. Can the Bundesliga side make it four wins from four in the Europa League?

Kick-off!

Medina faces former club

Tonight’s encounter will be a special occasion for Leverkusen's Medina, who faces Marseille for the first time since joining Die Werkself from the French side in the summer. The Argentine defender spent just one season on loan at Marseille before making the switch to the BayArena.

© MIGUEL MEDINA

More on that Marseille side

Marseille head coach Bruno Génésio has also made changes following his side's 2-0 home win against Toulouse last weekend. Bezahaf, Garcia and Kondogbia come back into his starting XI, with Emerson, Harit and Nnadi dropping out. Gouiri, who has scored six goals in Ligue 1 this season, leads the line for the visitors.

© IMAGO/Icon Sport

More on that Leverkusen side

Head coach Carles Martínez makes two changes to the side that lost against VfB Stuttgart last time out. Andrich moves alongside García into the double pivot, with Hofmann also getting the nod in the number 10 position. Moreira and Fernández drop to the bench as a result.

© IMAGO/Nordphoto / Hafner

Starting line-up: Marseille

Formation:4-3-3

12

Jeffrey De Lange

3

Ulisses Garcia

21

Nayef Aguerd

4

CJ Egan-Riley

61

Kelyann Bezahaf

Himad Abdelli

19

Geoffrey Kondogbia

23

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

14

Igor Paixão

9

Amine Gouiri

22

Timothy Weah

Marseille subs

Vermot, Gomis, Koum, Meïté, Abdallah, Kamissoko, Nnadi, Gomes, Valero, Mmadi, Maupay

Starting line-up: Bayer Leverkusen

Formation:4-2-3-1

1

Mark Flekken

3

Miguel Gutiérrez

2

Facundo Medina

12

Edmond Tapsoba

4

Jarell Quansah

24

Aleix García

8

Robert Andrich

30

Ibrahim Maza

7

Jonas Hofmann

17

Lucas Vázquez

14

Patrik Schick

Leverkusen subs

Lomb, Blaswich, Badé, Hawighorst, Tillman, Fernández, Culbreath, Moreira

Friendly victory

Bayer have never faced Marseille in a competitive fixture, but the two teams did face off in a pre-season friendly in 2023. Jonathan Tah opened the scoring with a header, while Nadiem Amiri scored directly from a corner as Xabi Alonso's side triumphed 2-1 at the Velodrome.

© IMAGO/Norbert Scanella

Proud home record

Leverkusen are unbeaten in all 19 previous UEFA Europa League group stage/league phase matches at the BayArena, winning 16 - including each of their last 10 - and drawing three.

© IMAGO/Taisei Iwamoto

Bruno Genesio on facing Leverkusen

"We are facing a very good team – one of the best in the Bundesliga. Our goal is to show the best possible performance and take points. No matter how this game ends, there are still a lot of points up for grabs in this competition."

© MIGUEL RIOPA

Play video

0:48

Watch: Martínez wary of improving Marseille

Facundo Medina on facing Marseille

The defender said of his former club: "They are a team with many experienced players. It will be a physical clash, and the little details will make the difference. If we show up with the right mindset, we’ll take the three points. We want to correct the mistakes that we’ve made at times in our recent matches."

© Bundesliga/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

Injury hopes

Martínez said Loïc Badé will return to the squad for the tie following a head injury. Christian Kofane could also feature following a thigh issue, but the coach confirmed Eliesse Ben Seghir, Guéla Doué and Kennet Eichhorn will not return until after the international break.

© Bundesliga/Getty Images/Christian Kaspar-Bartke

Carles Martínez on facing Marseille

"Marseille may not have any points yet, but their level of play is very good. They had many changes to their squad over the summer, and there was also a change in the coaching position. As I always say - referring to our own situation in Leverkusen as well - it’s all about the process and making daily improvements. It seems to me that they are succeeding in doing just that."

© IMAGO/Gerhard Schultheiß

Play video

0:59

Watch: Flekken's best saves

Flekken to start

Carles Martínez revealed that Mark Flekken is to begin the Europa League encounter, having made way for Janis Blaswich for Leverkusen's DFB Cup matches and their last Europa League tie in Crete.

© Bundesliga/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

Play video

2:03

Watch: Leverkusen 2-4 Stuttgart - highlights

Leverkusen suffered a second straight league defeat at the weekend, leaving them sixth in the table after eight games. Between those losses to Europa League rivals Hoffenheim and UEFA Champions League representatives VfB Stuttgart, Die Werkself beat Bundesliga 2's Nuremberg 5-2 to reach the DFB Cup round of 16.

Marseille on song domestically

Despite their continental struggles, Marseille are enjoying a four-game winning run domestically and currently sit sixth in Ligue 1. Former Schalke attacker Amine Harit scored his third goal of the campaign as L'OM won 2-0 at home to Toulouse on Sunday.

© IMAGO/Tim Rehbein/RHR-FOTO/IMAGO/RHR-Foto

Leverkusen: the story so far

Leverkusen have made a perfect start to their Europa League campaign, beating Celje 2-0, Lech Poznań 4-0 and OFI 2-0. They're behind only Benfica on goal difference in the league-phase standings, but are the only team in this season's competition still to concede.

© COSTAS METAXAKIS

Marseille: the story so far

Marseille are 34th out of 36 teams in the league phase, following defeats to Beşiktaş (4-1), Olympiacos (1-0) and Sturm Graz (1-0).

© IMAGO/GEPA pictures/ Avni Retkoceri

Welcome!

Follow all the build-up and live action as Bayer Leverkusen host France's Marseille in their fourth fixture of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase (kick-off: 9pm CET).

About the clubs

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

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