Despite a context that is far from easy (the ONN withdrew from the Champions League due to a lack of appropriate financial resources), the Nice water polo players made a brilliant start at Jean Bouin by defeating Montpellier with a wide and unexpected score: 10-4 (3-2, 2-1, 2-0, 2-1).
Yet, on the eve of the match, the team from Languedoc was considered the favorite.
The Nice scorers were Rodin with 3 goals, Idzinsky and Laversanne with 2 goals each, and Rocchi with 1 goal.