As part of the ninth day of the championship, OGC Nice handball won decisively with a score of 31 to 25 against a Besançon team that was too inconsistent defensively. The red and black needed a resurgence of pride to get back on track in this transitional 2020-2021 season. They had been on a streak of four consecutive defeats, including a cruel one (28-27) against Nantes.
With the current confinement and health measures, the match was held without spectators. However, the official Facebook account of the Nice club broadcasted the match live and for free. It was a successful digital event that brought together over 570 people at peak audience, which represents a third of the maximum capacity of the Charles Ehrmann Sports Hall. Unfortunately, this initiative had its flaws. It was impossible to follow the score progression or the game time.
Before the start, the players from the Côte d’Azur were 12th with 8 points and those from Besançon 9th with just two more points. They seized the opportunity to catch up with their counterparts to climb one position in the championship. The start of the match was at full force for the red and black, who relied on an excellent Marija Colic. The Serbian goalkeeper provided a slight lead (7-4) in the 10th minute with a total of four saves out of eight attempted shots. Their evening opponents regrouped by tightening their defense and came back to level (8-8) thanks to the left winger and French international Chloé Bouquet. By halftime, OGC Nice took the lead again (14-11) thanks to the unstoppable duo Bouchard and Moretto in front of the goal.
The second half mirrored the first, with Nice always controlling the score. The visitors were not consistent and were punished by the relentless players from the Côte d’Azur.
With this valuable victory, Kolev Marjan’s players achieve a successful operation on this 9th day of LFH. The current standings do not yet significantly reflect the general level of the teams. Many matches have been postponed due to the country’s health situation. We will know more in a few weeks when the lockdown restrictions on travel are less strict.
