OL RC Lens reunion turns painful as Openda leaves on crutches
Three years after leaving RC Lens, Loïs Openda returned to the Bollaert-Delelis stadium on Friday evening wearing the Olympique Lyonnais shirt, was greeted by ovations from his former supporters, but limped off in the 58th minute with a right‑leg injury and crutches.
Prolific past at Lens
Openda netted twenty‑one goals in thirty‑eight matches during the 2022‑2023 campaign, cementing a superb season for the Racing club in the Artois region. He departed the “Sang et Or” shortly afterwards, leaving an excellent memory among the Lens faithful. Bollaert, the stadium’s namesake, echoed the crowd’s applause.
The Belgian striker, on loan from Juventus to Olympique Lyonnais, shared a long embrace with Yannick Cahuzac before kickoff. Cahuzac, a former teammate, now works within the Lens technical staff, adding a personal touch to the reunion. The embrace was captured by fans on social media.
Injury curtails homecoming
On the pitch, Openda never managed to dominate, the Lens defence keeping him tightly contained. Une scène chaleureuse had preceded the less pleasant turn of events. His involvement ended in the fifty‑eighth minute after Ismaëlo Ganiou’s challenge left him clutching his right leg. He was helped off the field on crutches, with no diagnosis announced.
Lens secured their second victory of the season, while Olympique Lyonnais suffered their first defeat in Ligue 1, a setback for the club known as Les Gones. The win underscored the home side’s resilience despite Openda’s muted performance.
Images captured after the match showed Openda leaving Bollaert-Delelis on crutches, a sight that has worried Olympique Lyonnais. The club said it will await medical examinations before assessing the injury’s severity or expected absence.
For Openda, the return to Lens will be remembered as a bittersweet episode – the affection of the Bollaert crowd contrasted with a quiet display and a painful exit. Both the player and Olympique Lyonnais now face uncertainty ahead of their next fixtures.