Carles Martinez insisted the defensive responsibility lies with the entire Bayer Leverkusen team amid a run of three games without a clean sheet.

Leverkusen's perfect start to their Europa League campaign is on the line against Marseille this Thursday, with the Bundesliga giants currently second in the 36-team standings.

Olympiacos, Ferencvaros, Bournemouth and Benfica are the only other teams with 100% records, while Marseille have taken six points from their opening three matches. 

Leverkusen are unbeaten across their last 10 home Europa League matches (W7 D3), scoring 2.6 goals per game on average across those fixtures.

Martinez's side also possess the largest expected goals (xG) total in this season's Europa League (11), also ranking first in the competition for overall shots (72) and joint-first for shots on target (33), though it is at the other end where there is concern.

Leverkusen's defence has been called into question, having conceded nine goals in their last three Bundesliga outings. They have let in 16 goals so far in the top flight, with only five teams conceding more so far. 

They are the only team yet to concede in the Europa League in 2026-27, however, while also scoring eight times, but Martinez wants the whole team to come together at the BayArena to try and end their recent defensive struggles.

"We've had a lot of clean sheets but have conceded a lot of goals in other games," Martinez told reporters.

"That's partly due to the defence, but you have to look at football as a whole; everyone plays together. It's very important to keep that in mind.

"Clearly, Marseille are a great team and I know that there have been many changes this summer: a new coach and new players.

"They are improving, and we have the utmost respect for them. We must give our best performance to secure a victory."

Full focus for tomorrow https://t.co/Eu2AvvCZaz

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) November 4, 2026

Marseille, meanwhile, have lost their last five major European matches, scoring just one goal across those games.

It's their longest losing run since an eight-match streak between October 2018 and November 2020, though they still sit 12th in the table heading into MD4. 

The Ligue 1 side have lost 10 of their last 12 major European competition matches against German opposition (W1 D1), their only win coming against RB Leipzig in April 2018 by a 5-2 scoreline.

Leverkusen have never faced Marseille in European competition, and lost their last European match on home soil against French opposition, 7-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in October 2025, and Facundo Medina acknowledged the test that awaited his team. 

"They are a well-organised team with a lot of experienced players," Medina said of Marseille. 

"It is going to be a tough match, very physical, but if we go out on to the pitch with the right mentality and ambition we can get the three points."