Marseille end Leverkusen's unbeaten run with 1-0 Europa League win
Synopsis
Bayer Leverkusen's perfect Europa League start is over. Amine Gouiri's late curler at the BayArena gave Marseille a 1-0 win that few predicted — and with Benfica unbeaten in four, Ferencvaros stunning AC Milan 2-0, and Bournemouth sitting second, the 2026-27 league phase is producing surprises at every turn.
Key Takeaways
Amine Gouiri scored in the 77th minute as Marseille beat Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 at the BayArena on 6 November 2026 .
The result ended Leverkusen's perfect start to the UEFA Europa League league phase; they sit seventh on nine points .
Marseille recorded their first win of the campaign, moving to 31st in the standings.
Benfica lead the table with a perfect four-from-four record after a 3-1 win over Lech Poznan .
Ferencvaros shocked AC Milan 2-0 ; Bournemouth remain second after beating Sparta Prague 3-1 .
Amine Gouiri's 77th-minute curler handed Olympique Marseille a 1-0 away victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena on 6 November 2026, ending the German club's perfect start to the UEFA Europa League league phase. It was Marseille's first win of the campaign, lifting the French side to 31st in the standings, while Leverkusen slipped to seventh on nine points.
How the Decisive Moment Unfolded
The first half was largely uneventful despite Marseille making the sharper start. Gouiri had an early chance after controlling a long ball inside the box and escaping his marker, but goalkeeper Mark Flekken made the save. Leverkusen came closest to opening the scoring in the 42nd minute when Miguel Gutierrez's deflected effort struck the crossbar, with Jarell Quansah firing narrowly wide moments later.
The second half saw Leverkusen push with greater urgency. Patrik Schick blazed over in the 54th minute, while Marseille responded through Igor Paixao's long-range attempt and a second Flekken save to deny Gouiri again. Geoffrey Kondogbia also fired just wide from distance.
The breakthrough came when Leverkusen surrendered possession near the halfway line. Gouiri drove into space, cut inside Edmond Tapsoba and curled a precise shot into the far corner past Flekken. Tapsoba came close to an immediate equaliser, heading narrowly wide from a corner, but Marseille held on through a series of set-piece threats to secure all three points.
Significance for Leverkusen
The defeat carries notable symbolism for Bayer Leverkusen, who had been riding high on the momentum of their historic unbeaten Bundesliga title run last season. A perfect start to the Europa League phase has now been disrupted, and the loss underscores the difficulty of sustaining dominance across multiple competitions. Notably, this is the kind of result that can reshape a group's pecking order early in the phase.
Standings Snapshot After Thursday's Results
Benfica remain top of the Europa League standings after a 3-1 win over Lech Poznan, extending their perfect record to four matches. Bournemouth held second place following a 3-1 defeat of Sparta Prague, while Ferencvaros climbed to third with a 2-0 victory over AC Milan — a result that will raise eyebrows across the continent.
Union Saint-Gilloise moved to fourth after a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo, and Juventus climbed to fifth with a 2-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar. Anderlecht beat Salzburg 2-0, GNK Dinamo won 2-0 at Sunderland, and NEC Nijmegen defeated Omonia 3-1.
Other Thursday Results
Celtic edged Besiktas 3-2, Celje won 3-2 at Sturm Graz, and Viktoria Plzen claimed a 1-0 win at Lillestrom. Levski Sofia beat Jagiellonia 1-0, OFI Crete defeated Hapoel Beer-Sheva 2-0, and Torreense overcame Ararat-Armenia 3-2. Real Sociedad and Lyon drew 1-1, as did Crystal Palace and Hoffenheim.
With the league phase still in its early stages, Thursday's results have shaken up the standings and signalled that no side — not even last season's Bundesliga invincibles — can be taken for granted.
Point of View
Often written off given their inconsistency in Ligue 1, showed the kind of defensive discipline and counter-attacking precision that the BayArena has rarely seen dismantled. The wider Thursday card is equally instructive: Ferencvaros beating AC Milan and Bournemouth holding second place reflect how the expanded league-phase format is redistributing competitive weight. For Leverkusen, the margin for error across the remaining fixtures just narrowed considerably.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Marseille beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League?
Marseille won 1-0 at the BayArena on 6 November 2026, with Amine Gouiri scoring in the 77th minute after Leverkusen lost possession near the halfway line. Gouiri cut inside Edmond Tapsoba and curled a precise shot into the far corner past goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
What does the result mean for Leverkusen's Europa League campaign?
The defeat ended Leverkusen's perfect start to the Europa League league phase. They dropped to seventh in the standings with nine points, while the loss adds pressure on a side already managing commitments across the Bundesliga and domestic cup competitions.
Who leads the UEFA Europa League standings after 6 November 2026?
Benfica lead the Europa League table with a perfect record of four wins from four matches, their latest being a 3-1 victory over Lech Poznan. Bournemouth are second after beating Sparta Prague 3-1, and Ferencvaros are third after defeating AC Milan 2-0.
Who is Amine Gouiri?
Amine Gouiri is a French-Algerian forward who plays for Olympique Marseille. He scored the only goal of the match against Leverkusen with a precisely curled effort in the 77th minute, having also been denied earlier in the game by goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
How did AC Milan fare in the Europa League on 6 November 2026?
AC Milan lost 2-0 to Ferencvaros, one of the most surprising results on the night. The defeat is a setback for Milan's European ambitions and highlights the competitive unpredictability of the expanded league-phase format.
