Marseille, France: Olympique Marseille delivered a significant upset in the UEFA Europa League, defeating German giants Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 away from home. Amine Gouiri's decisive second-half strike on Thursday not only secured a crucial victory for Marseille but also brought an end to Leverkusen's impressive unbeaten run in the league phase.

The match at the BayArena saw a spirited Marseille side, with Gouiri initially missing an early chance. The first half was a cagey affair, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. Leverkusen came close just before halftime when Miguel Gutierrez's deflected shot hit the crossbar, signaling their growing threat.

After the break, Leverkusen pushed harder, but Marseille's defense held firm. The turning point arrived in the 77th minute when a Leverkusen error near midfield allowed Gouiri to advance. He skillfully cut past Edmond Tapsoba and curled a precise shot into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Mark Flekken with no chance. Despite Leverkusen's late surge and several set pieces, they couldn't find an equalizer. This defeat leaves Leverkusen with nine points, while Marseille, with three points, secured their first win, breathing new life into their campaign.

In other Europa League action, Benfica continued its dominant run, securing a 3-1 victory over Lech Poznan to maintain its perfect record with four wins. Bournemouth also impressed, beating Sparta Prague 3-1, and Ferencvaros pulled off a notable 2-0 win against AC Milan. These results highlight the competitive nature of the Europa League, with several teams vying for top spots.

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