Belgian striker Lucas Stassin, on loan to Sevilla from Saint Etienne, did not participate in this Sunday's training session, suggesting that he will not travel to the Ciutat de València for the match that closes the eighth day of LaLiga EA Sports against Levante. The striker's absence comes after a muscle injury to the adductor longus that prevented him from playing the match against Barcelona before the break for the national team matches.
Sevilla had seen in Stassin a key piece to try to consolidate their good streak at home, where, after the defeat against Barcelona, Luis García Plaza's team appears as the best in the stadium with two wins and a draw in the last three games. The hope that the forward would recover during the inactivity of the tournament and appear for the duel with Levante was frustrated when the player did not arrive at the last work session.
The club had also withdrawn Stassin from the Belgian under-21 team squad, in an attempt to speed up his recovery. However, the lack of participation in training and the absence of other players such as Marcao and Iker Muñoz indicate that the coach does not trust that the striker is fit to play. Luis García Plaza will have to decide his lineup without the presence of Stassin, which could affect the team's offensive strategy.
With Sevilla looking to return to winning ways, Stassin's absence represents an additional challenge. The club will have to adjust its game plan and possibly turn to other forwards on its squad or the youth player who has been called up. The result of the match against Levante and Sevilla's position in the table will depend on how the coach compensates for the lack of this player.
In the coming days, Sevilla will review their squad list and decide whether Stassin regains his place in the team. The release of the injury and the forward's availability will be key factors in determining the club's direction in the second half of the season.