Prolific weekend for the clubs from Nice. Victory for the Niss’Angels, Nice Volley, and the water polo swimmers. Less success for the hockey players and handball players. Nice operation also for OGC Nice with their victory on Brest’s field (2-0).
We can still say that Nice is a city of sports. And the professional clubs are here to remind us of it. It was a prolific weekend for the professional clubs except perhaps for Nice Hockey and OGCN Handball. Weekend summary.
OGCN on the Doorstep of Europe
And what about OGCN. Claude Puel’s men have regained form after their home defeat against Bordeaux. Already winners in the Coupe de la Ligue against Brest on September 26th (4-2), the Aiglons repeated their success in Finisterian lands last night with a 2-0 win. Even though Dario Cvitanich, who came off injured, did not score, Pejcinovic, captain of the evening, and Ferradj who scored an own goal in the 13th second of the second half, sealed the fate of this match, controlled by the Red and Blacks.
With 38 points, tied with Bordeaux but with a worse goal difference, the Aiglons are on the doorstep of the Europa League and who knows, with a possible victory against Lorient, Didier Digard’s teammates might start dreaming of European fixtures next year at the Allianz Riviera.
The Cavigal at the Top
The Niss’Angels consolidate their leading position in Ligue Féminine 2, the second tier in women’s basketball. Hosting the Alsatians from Graffenstaden, Rachid Méziane’s girls once again demonstrated their invincibility by putting their evening opponents 24 points behind (74-50).
With a record of 15 wins and one loss, the Azur team has every chance to return to the first division for the next season. The trip to Limoges should not pose too many problems for Anaïs Déas’ teammates.
The Volleyball Players Continue
After their great victory against Lyon, Mladen Kasic’s protégés secured a second victory on the court of bottom team Calais. The match began poorly for the southerners with the loss of the first set (21-25). But as against Rhodanians, Ciprian Matei, Matija Sabljak, and Eldin Demirovic again weighed heavily in the balance. With 51 points between them, they put the team back on the right track. The next three sets did not pose too many problems and the Nice team unfolded beautifully (25-16 / 25-17 / 25-17).
Nice Volley climbs to the seventh place in Ligue B and will have to confirm this revival as soon as Friday with the reception of Asnières, currently 4th, at 8 PM at the Palmieri hall.
Struggles for Nice Hockey and OGCN Handball
The hockey players couldn’t make it two in a row on Saturday night. Stan Sutor’s men fell to Courbevoie (3-5). The Aiglons fall to 6th place with 24 points and will have a perilous trip this weekend to the leader Brest.
As for the OGCN handball players, they are on their fifth consecutive defeat against Fleury Les Aubrais (23-33). Hosting Dijon on February 15th will undoubtedly be a turning point of the season. The Aiglons absolutely need to win against the penultimate team of LFH. A victory and perhaps even think about a possible stay for a club founded in 2011.
Water Polo: ONN’s Big Win
Also noteworthy is the big win of Olympic Nice Natation in water polo with a harsh 24 to 2 against the Ile-de-France club Taverny. Currently fourth in the Elite with 13 points in 9 matches, Toma Rodin’s teammates will have another chance to shine in a small derby against Aix-en-Provence Saturday night at 8 PM at the Jean Bouin Pool.
