OGC Nice handball: first defeat in Butagaz Energie League against Saint-Amand

Winners on the first day of Ligue Butagaz Energie, the Nice team played their second match of the season at home against Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. Guilty of a poor start, the Aiglonnes never managed to make up their deficit.

After their fine 34-24 victory at Saint-Maur on the first day of Ligue Butagaz Energie, OGC Nice handball hosted Saint-Amand-les-Eaux for the second day. A real challenge for the Azure team who had finished two places behind their opponent that day last season (6^th against 4^th for Saint-Amand).

Winners against their opponent 22-21 to close out the 2025-2026 season, the Aiglonnes had to rely on the solidity displayed in that match to win again.

The momentum was clearly on the Nice side since the Amandinoises fell at home in the first day 20-27. A surprising defeat against Achenheim Truchtersheim where Saint-Amand’s players had been particularly inaccurate in front of goal.

The Aiglonnes miss their start

The Nice team got off to a poor start. Down 4-0 after five minutes of play, they ran into a compact block and struggled to find good shooting situations. A deficit that prompted Nice coach Sébastien Mizoule to take a timeout very early in the match.  

Despite some flashes from the young Nice player Isabela Da Cruz, the rest of the first half confirmed the dominance of the Amandinoises. Without being brilliant, the visitors managed to maintain this +4 gap to go into the locker room at 10-14.

A first half marked by a fierce physical battle between the two teams.

A false start that proves costly

After the break, the Aiglonnes became more pressing. Margot Le Blevec, the right winger put OGC Nice back in the game. Found on the edge of the field, the left-hander found the top corner several times. Ten minutes from the end, the Nice team were only two goals behind, 21-23.

Unfortunately, caught up in the rush as the minutes ticked away, OGC Nice’s players lacked precision in the final minutes and suffered counterattacks from which they never recovered. Final score, (23-27). The Nice team can regret their poor start in a match between two European teams that lived up to expectations from the fifth minute onwards.

A defeat that places OGC Nice handball in fourth place in Ligue Butagaz Energie pending the rest of the second day, one place behind Saint-Amand.

The Aiglonnes will try to redeem themselves at Metz on Wednesday, September 9 at 8 p.m. for the third day of Ligue Butagaz Energie. A difficult trip to Metz who are top of the championship after the first two days.