Solid, focused, and vastly superior in all areas of the game, the Nice team dominated Bouillargues from start to finish, winning (38–23) in this 4th round of the French National Cup. Driven by a successful attack, a consistent pace, and a compact defense, OGC Nice Handball quickly took control and never let go.
The start of the match initially suggested a tight contest. Bouillargues opened the scoring from the first action through Camile Denojean, before Marie Fall quickly equalized. The home team briefly regained the lead thanks to Juliette Demuth, before Ehsan Abdelmalek brought Nice back into the game.
At 2–2, the match was already shifting. The Nice team increased their intensity, took advantage of the first opponent errors, and imposed a rhythm that Bouillargues could no longer keep up with. Marine Dupuis scored her first goal, starting a series that would quickly widen the gap.
Marija Colic Shuts Down the Shop
The Nice goalkeeper Marija Colic played a decisive role in the first half. She made a series of saves (15) and instilled a climate of confidence in her defense. Upfront, OGC Nice kept rolling. Marine Dupuis, unstoppable, scored repeatedly in the game (ten goals). Marie Sajka (five goals), also stood out, finding opportunities at mid-range and in open spaces. By the 10th minute, Nice was already leading 9–3.
Bouillargues tried to respond, but the Nice team controlled the tempo. The home team turned to Juliette Demuth and Victoria Nicolas to limit the damage, but the gap continued to widen. At halftime, Nice led 21–9.
A Second Half Managed Seriously
The start of the second half did nothing to change the dynamic. Wendy Semedo Monteiro (three goals) stood out, confirming the Nice team’s determination to stay focused.
The temporary exclusion of Victoria Nicolas at the beginning of the second half was a blow to Bouillargues. The Eaglets continued to press where it hurt: fast break, shooting efficiency, offensive diversity. Marie Sajka, Marie Fall, Marine Dupuis, and Hanna Ahlen kept adding to the score relentlessly.
Marija Colic, still solid, continued her stellar performance. Even when goalkeeper Lisa Stritt came in for Bouillargues and made a few stops, OGC Nice Handball maintained control of the match.
At the 40th minute, the difference reached a +14 goal margin. Bouillargues tried to hang on, but Nice played with disconcerting ease. The Nice team took advantage of spaces, capitalized on every opponent turnover, and maintained constant intensity.
Hanna Ahlen (5 goals) and Marie Fall (3 goals) ideally completed the offensive picture.
Nice mainly displayed an impressive collective strength: alternating positions, smooth rotations, defensive discipline, pace management. A complete performance.
A Masterful Conclusion to the Match
Even in the final minutes, the Nice team did not let up. Juliette Demuth and Alizée Famery tried to salvage Bouillargues’ pride, but Hanna Ahlen capped off the evening for Nice with the 38th goal.
The final score (38–23) perfectly reflected the nature of the match: total domination by OGC Nice, superior technically, physically, and collectively.
With this large victory, OGC Nice Handball secured their qualification for the quarter-finals of the competition. The French Cup could become an ideal platform for a team capable of achieving great things this season.
We will see the Nice team again in ten days in the championship against Saint-Amand as part of the 13th day of Ligue Butagaz Energie.
