Marseille arrive in Graz with something to lean on and something they still have not fixed. They have won their last two Ligue 1 matches, 2-0 at Troyes and 5-2 at Angers, but they have also lost their first two Europa League games and sit 32nd in the league phase with 0 points, a -4 goal difference and a 1-5 goals record.
Marseille's domestic lift
The league form is real enough to matter. Those two wins have at least given Marseille some momentum before this trip, and Amine Gouiri has been central to that domestic edge with 5 goals in 7 Ligue 1 appearances.
The issue is that none of that has travelled into Europe yet. Gouiri has 0 goals in 2 Europa League appearances this season, which is part of why Marseille's league-phase start has been so poor. They have not just dropped points, they have started from a hole that already looks awkward for a side expected to compete higher up.
Sturm Graz's chance at home
Sturm Graz are under pressure too, but their situation is different. They are 26th with 1 point from 2 matches, a -3 goal difference and a 0-3 goals record, so a home result would do more than settle the crowd. It would move them closer to the top 24 picture they are still trying to reach.
Their European start has been uneven, with a 0-0 draw at home to Rennes followed by a 3-0 loss at Bournemouth. That leaves this fixture as a proper checkpoint for both teams, even if Marseille's need is the more urgent one.
The kickoff at Sturm Graz vs Marseille is at 18:45, and Marseille need the kind of response that stops the damage from spreading across the league phase.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
