French club Marseille lost 4-1 away to Besiktas (a major Istanbul football club) in their opening Europa League group-stage fixture, extending their losing run to four consecutive matches. The defeat is a damaging blow ahead of Sunday's high-stakes Classique derby against Paris Saint-Germain at Marseille's home ground, the Vélodrome. The result piles pressure on the club at a critical moment in both European and domestic competition.