Bayer Leverkusen aim to extend perfect Europa League start against Marseille

Bayer Leverkusen put their perfect Europa League record on the line when they host Marseille at the BayArena on Thursday, with the French side still searching for their first point in the competition.

Leverkusen have won all three of their European matches and sit second in the league-phase table on nine points. Marseille are 34th, third from bottom, after losing all three games.

The Werkself’s most recent Europa League fixture ended in a 2-0 victory over OFI Crete on 22 October. They have scored eight goals in the competition and kept three clean sheets.

The match betting selections are Leverkusen to win and under 4.5 goals at 1.74, Patrik Schick to score at 1.72, and Amine Gouiri to score at 3.60.

Carles Martinez’s side have played three times in all competitions since that European win. They lost twice in the Bundesliga but beat Nuremberg 5-2 in the German Cup on 28 October.

Their latest result was a 4-2 league defeat by Stuttgart on Saturday, leaving them sixth in the Bundesliga with 13 points from eight matches. That result ended Leverkusen’s perfect home start in 2026-27, having won their first five games at the BayArena.

Across six home matches this season, Leverkusen have conceded seven goals. They kept clean sheets in each of their first three games at the stadium.

Marseille’s campaign has also been uneven, although they have recently improved in Ligue 1. They have won their past four league matches and are sixth with 15 points from a possible 27. They are three points behind second-placed Lille and five behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Bruno Genesio came under significant pressure after Marseille began the season with five defeats and one victory. Since then, he has guided the team to four wins in six matches.

The Olympians have scored 13 goals across those six fixtures but conceded seven, keeping only two clean sheets. Their away record remains poor: they have lost seven of their past 10 away games and four of their six trips this season.

Leverkusen’s Europa League form is VVV, while their overall record is VVVDVD. Marseille’s corresponding records are DDD and VDVDVV.

The hosts have several attacking absentees, with Eliesse Ben Seghir, Martin Terrier, Christian Kofane and Moussa Diaby all ruled out. Lucas Vazquez, Ibrahim Maza and Afonso Moreira may therefore start behind Schick.

With right-back Gela Doue still expected to spend several weeks injured, former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah is the likely option on the right. For Marseille, Emerson Palmieri escaped serious injury against Toulouse on Sunday, but Ulisses Garcia could replace him.

Tochukwu Nnadi, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Himad Abdelli are expected to form the midfield behind Gouiri.

Probable teams

Leverkusen: Flekken; Quansah, Medina, Tapsoba, Gutierrez; Fernandez, Garcia; Vazquez, Maza, Moreira; Schick.

Marseille: De Lange; Weah, Egan-Riley, Aguerd, Garcia; Nnadi, Højbjerg, Abdelli; Harit, Gouiri, Paixao.

Leverkusen have lacked consistency domestically but have been impressive in Europe. Despite their injury problems, they will expect to beat a Marseille side with a poor recent away record.