Konyaspor v Marseille background

Defeated in each of their two previous away fixtures in UEFA Europa League Group I, Marseille know that a third successive loss on the road would enable hosts Konyaspor to move above them in the standings.

• The French club can qualify for the round of 32 with a game to spare, but only if they win and Vitória SC do not match them away to group leaders Salzburg. Konyaspor will be eliminated if they lose.

Previous meetings
• In the corresponding fixture on matchday one, Marseille made home advantage count, defeating Konyaspor 1-0 in the Stade Vélodrome with a goal early in the second half from defender Adil Rami.

• Marseille's seven games against Turkish clubs have yielded three wins, two draws and two defeats. They are yet to win in Turkey (D2 L1).

Form guide
• Konyaspor have failed to score in seven of their ten European games and have won only one of their five home fixtures, losing three of them.

• Marseille are without a European away win in 2017, three draws followed by 1-0 defeats at both Salzburg and Vitória SC in this group stage. However, they have not conceded more than once in any of those five games.

• Winners of the 2016/17 Turkish Cup, Konyaspor made their European competition bow in last year's UEFA Europa League group stage. They collected just one point from their six matches.

• Fifth in France last term, Marseille last featured in the UEFA Europa League group stage in 2015/16 when they made it to the round of 32, eventually losing to Athletic Club. They were UEFA Cup runners-up in both 1998/99 and 2003/04.

Links and trivia
• The journey from Marseille to Konya is a little short of 2,400km.

• The Turkish club's midfielder Mehdi Bourabia was born in Dijon, France, and played for Grenoble (2009–11) and LOSC Lille's reserves (2013–14) before heading abroad.

• Konyaspor's Ivorian midfielder Moryke Fofana, who turns 26 on the day of this match, also played in France with Lorient (2015–17).

• Marseille defender Rami won the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League with Sevilla, starting seven matches including the final against Liverpool.

• Marseille's Boubacar Kamara is suspended after being shown a red card in the matchday four encounter at Vitória SC, which means he will not be playing on his 18th birthday.

• Suspended for next match if booked: Ali Turan, Jens Jønsson (Konyaspor).

The coaches
• Konyaspor boss Mustafa Reşit Akçay is back in the group stage for a third time, having coached Trabzonspor and Osmanlıspor in past editions. A youth specialist, he notably went unbeaten in his first 19 games in UEFA competition (W15 D4).

• Marseille coach since October 2016, Rudi Garcia started out as a midfielder at Lille, returning to lead the club from 2008–13 and masterminding their domestic double triumph in 2010/11. He subsequently spent three seasons in charge at AS Roma.