Bayer Leverkusen v Marseille: Europa League Matchweek 4 preview, injuries and projected lineups
Bayer Leverkusen will host Marseille at the BayArena in Leverkusen in Matchweek 4 of the UEFA Europa League on Friday, 6 November at 1:30 a.m. IST. Leverkusen enter the fixture joint top of their group after three wins from three, while Marseille remain without a point in the competition.
Leverkusen opened their Europa League campaign with a 2-0 victory over NK Celje and followed that with wins against Lech Poznan and OFI Crete, but arrive after consecutive domestic defeats to Stuttgart and Hoffenheim. Marseille have lost to Besiktas and Olympiacos and were beaten 1-0 by Sturm Graz in their most recent European outing. Across all competitions Marseille have conceded six goals and kept just two clean sheets in 10 matches.
Recent sequences in all competitions read L-W-L-W-W for Leverkusen and W-W-L-W-L for Marseille. A victory for the hosts would allow them to consolidate their position at the top of the Europa League group. The contrasting runs underline the differing starts both sides have made to the season.
Defender Jarell Quansah was an unused substitute against Lech Poznan, started the following game versus OFI Crete and collected a yellow card in that match. The preview notes Leverkusen operate a high defensive line and that Quansah’s recovery speed is used to cover the space behind it; since his move from Anfield he has been described as being in sublime form. He is likely to face Brazilian winger Igor Paixao and the analysis adds his upper-body balance gives him an edge in physical tussles near the halfway line. Quansah will contend with an attacking group led by Patrik Schick, Diego Moreira and Lucas Vázquez.
A product of Manchester City’s youth team, Egan Riley "has won several accolades with City and played extensively in England before making a move to Marseille." The report says that during transition plays and counterattacks Egan Riley slides across to maintain a stable three-man defensive line for Marseille. The preview projects he will play a key role in attempts to secure Marseille’s first clean sheet in the Europa League.
Injury absences for the hosts are listed as Guela Doue, Loic Bade, Ben Seghir and Kennet Eichhorn. For Marseille the preview states Emerson is injured and out alongside Derek Cornelius. The projected Bayer Leverkusen lineup is: Mark Flekken (GK); Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba, Facundo Medina, Miguel Gutiérrez; Ezequiel Fernández, Aleix García; Lucas Vázquez, Ibrahim Maza, Diego Moreira; Patrik Schick. The projected Marseille lineup is: Jeffrey de Lange (GK); Timothy Weah, CJ Egan-Riley, Nayef Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri; Pierre-Emile Højbjerg; Amine Harit, Himad Abdelli, Tochukwu Nnadi, Igor Paixão; Amine Gouiri.
These two sides are set to meet each other for the first time ever. Given the contrasting forms, the preview judges the German side as highly likely to win, expecting Patrik Schick to score a brace. Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Marseille
The match will be played at the Bay Arena on Friday, 6 November, at 1:30 a.m. IST. In India the game can be streamed on Sony Sports Network channels and SonyLIV; in the UK it can be streamed on TNT Sports. For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.