OGC Nice Handball travels to Nîmes (5 PM) for the penultimate day of the regular season. Fifth in the standings, the team from Nice has already secured their spot in the playoffs, marking a first in the club’s history. If they win, Cléopâtre Darleux and her teammates would put pressure on Nîmes, who are in fourth place.
They did it. Three weeks ago, on the Toulon-St-Cyr field, Sébastien Gardillou’s protégés qualified for the Women’s League playoffs. Early May, the team from Nice will be at the starting line for the title of French champion, alongside giants like Metz, Fleury Loiret, and Issy-Paris.
But before these first finals phases, a year after nearly being relegated to the second division, there are two matches left to possibly finish in fourth place occupied by…Nîmes. With four consecutive victories, the momentum is on the side of Nice. The draws at Metz and Fleury-Loiret had launched the second half of the season, and the victories against Issy-Paris (22-21) and Mios-Biganos-Bègles (35-22) have sealed the potential of this team, which could be a thorn in the side for the top teams of this Women’s League.
The red and black will be able to count on the return of their French internationals: Alexandra Lacrabère, Cléopâtre Darleux, and Béatrice Edwige, who shined in the Golden League.
“This match against Nîmes is important for us for the standings. We are going to play our last two championship matches at full strength to approach the playoffs in the best conditions. HBC Nîmes might be our first playoff opponent, in the quarterfinals…” explains Cléopâtre Darleux on her website.
But on the other side, the Gardoises, not doing as well in the championship (2 wins in the last 4 matches) have bounced back this week with a success against Fleury-Loiret, which means a qualification for the final of the Coupe de France. Nîmes can be pleased with the arrival of Allison Pineau, a French international medaled on numerous occasions.
What is certain is that the game will be well attended with such a precious stake, the fourth place. Indeed, with the home-and-away system, the better-ranked team will host the return match, a clear and distinct advantage.
Photo credit: OGC Nice Handball
