Olympique de Marseille kept their Ligue 1 surge alive, edging Bayer Leverkusen 1‑0 on Thursday night for their inaugural Europa League win, and Genesio praised the squad’s resilience.
The domestic run of four straight league victories – over Troyes, Angers, Le Havre and Toulouse – finally translated to Europe, ending their Europa points drought with a promising 1‑0 triumph on Bayer’s turf.
Against a German side that had swept its first three group games, the Marseillais delivered a solid display, sealed by Amine Gouiri’s strike in the final fifteen minutes.
There’s a mindset in this group
‘Proud and delighted to see my team dominate here, where it’s never easy,’ Genesio said after the match. ‘Especially pleased we stuck to the game plan we set. When everything unfolds as prepared, it’s a huge reward for staff and players.’
In my view, the early‑season hurdles have forged a tighter unit. The coach noted the squad turned early‑season hardships into collective strength. ‘There’s a mindset in this group,’ Genesio observed. ‘What’s happened since the start has bonded us even more. It fuels ambition beyond what we thought possible. Bit by bit we’re climbing back. We must enjoy it yet stay cautious, understand why the tide turned and keep moving forward.’
That win lifts Marseille back into the Europa qualification chase. ‘Points‑wise it’s a full reset; we still have four games left, three at home, so we’ve got every chance to finish in the top 24,’ Genesio added. Next up is a home tie on November 26 against Levski Sofia at 18:45. Can they keep this surge to the end?