AS Monaco manager Philippe Clement will be reunited with his former Club Brugge striker Loïs Openda when the principality side travel to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis to take on RC Lens on Saturday.
Clement and Openda worked together for on and off for seven years between 2015 and 2022, with the pair on the books at Belgian giants Brugge.
Despite having seen Openda come through the youth academy, the striker struggled to hold down a first-team place on graduating, and left with a record of just five goals from his 53 appearances in all competitions.
Watch: Highlights of Lens' 4-1 win at Monaco in the reverse fixture
A loan to Vitesse Arnhem was the making of Openda, and after two goal-filled years in the Netherlands he joined Lens last July. He has gone from strength to strength since, his team-high 15 strikes helping fire les Sang et Or onto the Ligue 1 Uber Eats podium.
"We worked together when Loïs was 18, 19 years old," Clement reflected before the game. "He wanted to be the No.1 striker in Brugge, but he wasn't ready to take on this role at a club like Brugge who play in the Champions League.
"[But] he's made good progress since. Everyone saw his qualities. He's super-fast but he also has an eye for goal and a will to be decisive. In difficult times, he's someone who remains combative. That's a very important quality in life and as a player."
Openda scored the first goal as Lens beat Monaco 4-1 in August's reverse fixture, and a similar performance again could all but secure their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round spot ahead of Monaco.
