Bayer 04 Leverkusen occupy seventh place in the UEFA Europa League table with nine points from four matches, while Marseille sit 31st with three points, according to the BBC's standings published on Thursday 5 November 2026. The two clubs are separated by 24 places and six points ahead of their meeting. The BBC's table was last updated at 22:15 that evening.
Leverkusen have won three of their four games and lost one, scoring eight goals and conceding just one, for a goal difference of plus seven. Marseille have a single win and three defeats, with two goals scored and six conceded, leaving them on minus four.
Why it matters
The gap between the clubs reflects the shape of the 36-team league phase, where position determines whether a side advances directly, drops into a play-off, or exits. Per the BBC's key, places one through eight go straight to the eighth finals, while positions nine through 24 enter a play-off round. Marseille's current standing of 31st would leave them outside both brackets entirely.
For Leverkusen, seventh place is inside the direct qualification zone, but the margin is thin. Their nine points place them two behind the top four and level with Beşiktaş, Dinamo Zagreb, Levski Sofia, Sunderland, NEC Nijmegen and Olympique Lyonnais, all on seven points in places eight through 13. A single result could move them several positions in either direction.
Leverkusen's defensive record stands out
Leverkusen's tally of one goal conceded is among the tightest in the competition. Only Olympiakos, on one goal against, matches it at the top of the defensive standings, and the Greek side have played to a 4-1 record with three wins and a draw. Leverkusen's form line in the BBC table shows three wins followed by a loss, the most recent result.
Their starting lineup against Marseille, as listed by the BBC, featured Mark Flekken in goal behind a back line of Miguel Gutiérrez, Facundo Medina, Edmond Tapsoba and Jarell Quansah. Tapsoba wore the captain's armband. Robert Andrich and Aleix García anchored the midfield, with Jonas Hofmann, Ibrahim Maza and Lucas Vázquez supporting striker Patrik Schick.
Gutiérrez was booked in the sixth minute. Leverkusen made their first changes on 68 minutes, bringing on Ezequiel Fernández for Andrich and Afonso Moreira for Vázquez. Maza and Hofmann made way on 79 minutes for Malik Culbreath and Malik Tillman. The BBC's substitutes list also included Loïc Badé, Janis Blaswich and B. Hawighorst.
Marseille's position at the bottom end
Marseille's three points place them 31st of 36, ahead only of Celtic on goal difference, Hapoel Be'er Sheva on one point, Lillestrøm and Lech Poznań on one apiece, and Ararat-Armenia, who have yet to register a point. Their minus-four goal difference is better than several sides below them, but the points column is what separates them from the play-off places.
The BBC's form line for Marseille reads three losses followed by a win, the victory coming most recently. That result halted a run of defeats but left them with ground to make up. The team in 24th, Sturm Graz, has four points, so Marseille are one point adrift of the final play-off spot as things stand.
The wider table picture
Benfica lead the competition with 12 points from four wins, with a goal difference of plus ten. Bournemouth are second on the same points with plus nine, and Ferencváros third with plus eight. Union Saint-Gilloise and Juventus sit fourth and fifth on ten points each, with Olympiakos sixth, also on ten.
At the other end, Ararat-Armenia have lost all four matches and conceded 14 goals. Lech Poznań have a goal difference of minus ten, and Lillestrøm minus eight. The spread across the 36-team field is wide after four rounds, with 12 points separating the leaders from the bottom side.
The BBC's table notes that positions one to eight reach the eighth finals and positions nine to 24 enter the play-off round. That structure means the middle of the table is congested: seven clubs sit on seven points, and a further group on six. Leverkusen, on nine, are close to the direct-qualification line but not secure in it.
What to watch
Both clubs have league-phase matches remaining, and the table will be recalculated after each round. Leverkusen's next task is to protect their place in the top eight, while Marseille need points quickly to climb toward 24th. The BBC's standings will update as the competition continues.
