Bayer Leverkusen continues its Europa League campaign this Thursday at 21:00 CET as they host Olympique Marseille. The Werkself enter the fourth matchday of the 2026/27 competition with a perfect record in the tournament, having secured three wins in their opening three matches. According to reports from SPOX, Leverkusen currently stands as the only team in the competition yet to concede a goal.
Mark Flekken Returns to Starting Lineup
Head coach Carles Martínez confirmed during Wednesday’s press conference that Mark Flekken will return to the starting lineup. Flekken, who previously started in the victories against NK Celje and Lech Posen, takes over the duties from Janis Blaswich, who played in the win over OFI Kreta. The decision was finalized following the team’s concluding training session on Wednesday afternoon. Martínez noted that while Eliesse Ben Seghir and Christian Kofane have returned to training, Ben Seghir remains unavailable until after the upcoming international break. “Wenn alles nach Plan läuft, soll er nach der Länderspielpause wieder dabei sein,” meint Martínez, who will decide on matchday whether Kofane is included in the squad. Guéla Doué is currently training with the ball but remains unavailable due to a calf injury; the coach noted that the Ivorian player is making progress, though not as quickly as expected.
Defensive options for the match have expanded with the return of Loïc Badé. The defender, who suffered a head injury during a match against Hoffenheim on October 25, 2026, has been cleared for the matchday squad. Facundo Medina is also expected to feature against his former club, either in the central defense or at left-back. Martínez praised Medina for his energy and attitude, stating he is there to help the team as both a player and a person. Kennet Eichhorn has also returned to the training pitch, with Martínez confirming he will approach his recovery step by step.
Olympique Marseille’s Recent Form
Despite their current standing in the Europa League table—where they sit 34th out of 36 teams without a point—Martínez expressed caution regarding the visitors. Bayer 04 Leverkusen reported that the coach highlighted Marseille’s recent recovery in the French Ligue 1, where they have won four consecutive matches. “Das, so erscheint es mir, gelingt ihnen,” Martínez noted regarding their recent climb to sixth place in the domestic league after previously sitting in the penultimate spot. “Sie sind ein starkes Team, es wird ein hartes Spiel,” he added. Es wird ein kompliziertes, physisches Spiel.”
Broadcasting and Match Coverage
The match will be available to viewers in Germany through both free-to-air and subscription services. RTL has selected this fixture for free-to-air television coverage, with their pre-match broadcast beginning at 20:15 CET. According to SPOX, the game is also accessible via digital streaming platforms RTL+, WOW, and Sky Go for subscribers.
Matchday Schedule
The fixture is part of a full slate of Europa League matches scheduled for the 21:00 CET kickoff slot. Other matches occurring simultaneously include AZ Alkmaar versus Juventus Turin and Celtic Glasgow against Besiktas Istanbul.
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