Leverkusen host Marseille at BayArena in Europa League Matchweek 4; starting lineups confirmed
Bayer Leverkusen take on Marseille at the BayArena in Leverkusen in Matchweek 4 of the UEFA Europa League 2026-27, with confirmed starting lineups and pre-match updates published ahead of the fixture. Leverkusen enter unbeaten in the competition while Marseille remain without a point in the group.
Under the industrial skyline surrounding the BayArena, Leverkusen sit joint-top of their Europa League group after three wins in three games, including a 2-0 win over NK Celje and subsequent victories against Lech Poznan and OFI Crete. Domestically the hosts have been inconsistent, arriving at this fixture after two consecutive defeats against Stuttgart and Hoffenheim, which adds pressure to maintain momentum in Europe.
Marseille, managed by Bruno Genesio, are yet to register a point in the Europa League following defeats to Besiktas and Olympiacos and a 1-0 defeat to Sturm Graz in their most recent group match. The French side have conceded six goals and kept just two clean sheets in 10 games, a defensive record the coaching staff will be keen to improve as their continental campaign stalls.
Leverkusen’s defensive options include the English defender Quansah, who was benched against Lech Poznan but started for Bayer Leverkusen against OFI Crete and picked up a yellow card in that match. The 23-year-old moved from Anfield to Leverkusen and has been described in the build-up as using elite recovery speed to cover the spaces behind a high defensive line and relying on upper-body balance in physical tussles, notably against Brazilian winger Igor Paixao.
The Leverkusen attack is led by Patrik Schick alongside Diego Moreira and Lucas Vazquez, named in the preview as the side’s primary attacking threat in the competition. Those attackers are cited as the frontline Quansah and the rest of the Leverkusen defence must contend with in transition and possession phases.
On Marseille’s side, Egan Riley is noted as a product of Manchester City’s youth team who "won several accolades with City and played extensively in England before making a move to Marseille." During transition plays and counterattacks, Riley is described as sliding across to maintain a stable three-man defensive line for Marseille, and the preview singles him out as set to play a crucial role in the club’s attempt to secure their first clean sheet in Europe.
Confirmed starting lineups and further pre-match details were released ahead of kick-off, and both teams will use this fixture to address contrasting priorities: Leverkusen aiming to consolidate their position at the top of the group, and Marseille needing wins to try to salvage their continental hopes.