Martínez: Leverkusen need a collective effort to fix their defensive problems

Bayer Leverkusen head coach Carles Martínez stressed that defending is the whole team's responsibility after three matches without a clean sheet.

Leverkusen's perfect start in the UEFA Europa League will be put to the test against Marseille on Thursday. The Bundesliga giants currently sit second in the 36-team league phase. Olympiakos, Ferencváros, Bournemouth and Benfica are the other sides still unbeaten, while Marseille have collected six points from their first three matches.

Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last 10 Europa League home matches (7W 3D), averaging 2.6 goals per game in that run. Martínez's side have the highest expected goals (xG) figure in this season's Europa League (11). They also lead the competition for total shots (72) and are joint top for shots on target (33). The real concern, however, lies at the other end of the pitch.

Leverkusen's defensive performance has come under scrutiny after they conceded nine goals in their last three Bundesliga matches. Only five teams have conceded more than the German side's 16 goals in the league so far. In the Europa League, by contrast, they are the only team yet to concede, while also finding the net eight times. Martínez now wants the whole team to stand together at the BayArena to put an end to their recent defensive lapses.

Speaking at a press conference, Martínez said: "We have kept clean sheets in many games, but in some games we have conceded too many goals. That is partly about defending, but you have to look at football as a whole; everyone plays together. It is very important to keep that in mind. Marseille are definitely a great team. I know they went through a lot of changes this summer: a new head coach and new players. They are getting better and better, and we have great respect for them. We have to put in our best performance to win."

Marseille, meanwhile, go into Matchday 4 in 12th place. The Ligue 1 side have lost 10 of their last 12 European matches against German opponents (1W 1D), with their only win coming in April 2018, a 5-2 victory over RB Leipzig.

Leverkusen have never faced Marseille in European competition. In their last home European match against French opposition, Leverkusen lost 7-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in October 2025, and Facundo Medina also highlighted the difficulty of the challenge ahead. "They are a very organised team with a lot of experienced players. It will be a very physical and tough game, but if we go out with the right mentality and desire, we can take the three points," Medina said.