Stade Rennais have suffered a significant blow ahead of their UEFA Europa League tie against Juventus on Thursday. Esteban Lepaul (26) is highly unlikely to feature in the encounter, Franck Haise revealed on Sunday.
Lepaul netted a hat-trick against Paris FC on Sunday, although it wasn’t enough for the Breton club to secure a point. Lepaul converted his third penalty in the 88th minute. It looked to have secured a draw at the Stade Jean Bouin, however, Lassine Sinayoko then stepped up after being brought down by Valentin Rongier in injury time. The Malian secured a big win for Paris FC, which takes them third in Ligue 1 and level on points with leaders Olympique Lyonnais.
By the time Sinayoko had won the game for Les Parisiens, Lepaul was already off the pitch. Speaking post-match, Haise held little hope of the France international, now Ligue 1’s top scorer, playing against Juventus later this week. “Knowing him, if he is coming off in added time at 3-3, while we’re in the ascendancy, because he tells me that he can’t continue, I don’t see how, in the very short term, and Thursday is very short term, he can play,” said the Rennes manager.
He added, “If he couldn’t keep going, I know that it is a real problem.” The striker will now undergo tests on a suspected ankle issue.