Sevilla lose Lucas Stassin to injury before Barcelona visit

Sevilla will be without one of their major summer signings when they host Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday.

Lucas Stassin suffered a muscle injury during Sevilla’s match against Deportivo La Coruna and has been ruled out of the seventh-round fixture at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, according to Sport.

The club’s medical department confirmed on Thursday that the Belgium forward has sustained a myofascial injury to the adductor longus muscle in his right leg. Sevilla have not yet given a timescale for his recovery, saying the length of his absence will depend on how the injury develops.

Stassin’s absence against the side managed by Hansi Flick has already been confirmed, although it remains unclear when he will be available again.

The 20-year-old joined Sevilla from Saint-Etienne during the summer in one of the club’s most notable pieces of business. The Andalusian side paid 2.5m euros to loan him, with an option to buy for 25m euros at the end of the season.

He made an immediate impression, scoring on his debut against Espanyol. That goal also made Stassin the youngest player in Sevilla’s history during the 21st century to score on his first appearance for the club.

Sevilla assessing further injury concern

Stassin’s injury leaves coach Luis Garcia searching for an alternative centre-forward against Barcelona. Rubi Ouri and Isaac Romero are regarded as the leading candidates to replace him.

Sevilla are also monitoring the condition of Kike Salas, who missed Thursday’s training session after suffering a knock at the Riazor stadium. The defender is due to complete an individual training programme on Friday, after which the club will assess whether he can play.

The hosts will also be unable to select Vargas, Sangante and Marcao, leaving Garcia with several significant absences for the visit of Barcelona.

Despite the setback involving Stassin, Sevilla go into the match with confidence after a positive start to the season. Captain Gabriel Suazo said the team had a clear plan for the game and would remain committed to it.

“We believe in an idea, and we will stick to it because we are 100% convinced by it,” Suazo told the club’s official media. “We know our strengths and weaknesses.”

Suazo also praised the mentality within the squad and said Sevilla would approach Barcelona with the same attitude they had shown in the opening rounds of the campaign.

“They are 11 warriors who go out on to the pitch to give everything they have,” he said.