OGC Nice Handball hosted Metz this Saturday evening during the 6th round of the Ligue Butagaz Énergie. A match easily dominated by the visitors.
Following the defeat last Wednesday in Brest (39-23), everything had to be forgotten and come back strong at home to face the four-time reigning champions. Undefeated this season and since the 2023-2024 season, Metz lived up to their status as favorites by asserting their strength against the quickly defeated Aiglonnes (22-36).
Metz imposed their frantic pace right from the start, multiplying lightning-fast counterattacks. On the other side, the Aiglonnes faced a compact and tough defense. Despite multiple attempts, the Niçoises struggled to frame their shots while the reigning French champions left no chance to the goalkeeper Cécilia Errin, recently voted the best goalkeeper of September in the Ligue Butagaz Énergie.
It wasn’t until the 6th minute that the first Nice goal was seen, scored on a seven-meter throw by captain Marine Dupuis. But Metz kept rolling: the formidable number 27, Sarah Bouktit, was unstoppable in the zone and had already scored three goals by the 9th minute (2-7). The timeout called by Nice didn’t change the trend, with two lost balls offering two counterattacks to Metz, further widening the gap.
At the 16th minute, Metz’s number 29, Léna Grandveau, who had had a very good start to the match, landed awkwardly on her wrist after a duel with the Nice goalkeeper and was substituted. At the same time, Cécilia Errin, struggling, was replaced by Marija Colic. But nothing seemed to slow down the Metz team, irresistible in attack and physically dominant (5-14 at the 23rd minute).
Despite a new timeout called by Metz in the 26th minute, the visitors continued to roll, leading (6-16) effortlessly. At the very end of the period, they accelerated again, scoring three consecutive goals before Nice timidly responded with two shots. At halftime, Metz logically led (20-9), a comfortable lead even with Sarah Bouktit and Léna Grandveau exiting the game.
Nice plays better but still falls short
The second half began with Marija Colic still in the Nice goal, and the goalkeeper was on point from the start, stopping a seven-meter throw. On the other side, Sarah Bouktit returned to the court, while Léna Grandveau remained on the bench, visibly still struggling. The two teams exchanged goals before Marie-Hélène Sajka scored two goals, bringing her team within eight points (18-26 at the 35th minute).
At the 36th minute, Léna Grandveau made a brief return to attempt a seven-meter throw won by the imposing Sarah Bouktit, but missed her attempt before returning to the bench. Marija Colic, impeccable, made a second decisive save on the line, keeping Nice’s hopes alive. Despite good offensive intentions, defensive errors gave possessions back to Metz and prevented Sébastien Mizoule’s players from chaining together. The gap increased to ten goals at the 40th minute (18-28).
After a goal by Ehsan Abdelmaleck that brought the Gym back under the ten-point mark, Metz called a timeout at the 44th minute. Metz responded immediately with a pinpoint pass from Léna Grandveau to the tall Anna Albek, before Sarah Bouktit, once again served inside on a lightning counterattack, won her duel with the goalkeeper.
But in the 49th minute, a dramatic turn of events, Sarah Bouktit received a red card for pulling an opponent’s jersey. Metz found themselves numerically disadvantaged, without a goalkeeper in attack, but Nice couldn’t exploit the situation. At the 50th minute, the gap remained ten points, and Sébastien Mizoule called another timeout at the 53rd minute (19-30).
Léna Grandveau finished with four decisive passes and scored a solo goal on a counterattack to definitively bury any hopes of a Nice comeback. Final score (22-36).
Nice suffered a second consecutive defeat against their two ranking rivals and dropped to 4th place, surpassed by Plan-de-Cuques.
Now it’s time for the international break, which will provide a breather before resuming on October 24 with the reception of Stella-Saint Maur, who are twelfth in the ranking.
