Nice 2-1 Lorient

Mario Balotelli scored the winner and was sent off for two yellow cards inside six minutes

Mario Balotelli scored a late winner and was sent off as Nice beat Lorient to return to the top of Ligue 1.

The Italian produced a sublime curling strike in the 86th minute to restore his side's lead and was booked for removing his shirt in celebration.

In added time, he was dismissed after being shown another yellow card for a clash with Lorient's Steven Moreira.

Despite Balotelli's red card, Nice easily held on to extend their unbeaten start to the season to eight games.

Ricardo Pereira had given the hosts the lead in the 11th minute before Benjamin Moukandjo equalised for Lorient shortly after the hour mark.

Nice's victory means they moved above Monaco, who had gone top on Saturday by thrashing Metz 7-0.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Nice

• 30Cardinale
• 4Baysse
• 31Costa Santos
• 33SarrBooked at 59mins
• 21Ricardo Pereira
• 25Cyprien
• 24BodmerSubstituted forPléaat 76'minutes
• 6Seri
• 29Chagas EstevaoSubstituted forEyssericat 63'minutesBooked at 88mins
• 5Belhanda
• 9BalotelliBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

• 1Hassen
• 2Souquet
• 13Eysseric
• 14Pléa
• 18Walter
• 22Donis
• 26Koziello

Lorient

• 40Lecomte
• 20MoreiraBooked at 90mins
• 5Toure
• 13Ciani
• 25Le Goff
• 7MvuembaSubstituted forBen Khemisat 85'minutes
• 6BellugouBooked at 27minsSubstituted forMesloubat 64'minutes
• 8Ribeiro DiasBooked at 85mins
• 27Cabot
• 12MoukandjoSubstituted forWarisat 72'minutes
• 21Mara

Substitutes

• 9Waris
• 16Delecroix
• 17Mesloub
• 23Fofana
• 26Ben Khemis
• 28Barthelme
• 34Koffi

Referee:

Olivier Thual

Attendance:

17,816

Match Stats

Home TeamNiceAway TeamLorient

Possession

Home54%

Away46%

Shots

Home8

Away17

Shots on Target

Home2

Away4

Corners

Home3

Away5

Fouls

Home9

Away14

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Nice 2, Lorient 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Nice 2, Lorient 1.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Younès Belhanda (Nice).

Posted at 90'+4'

Michael Ciani (Lorient) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+4'

Corner, Nice. Conceded by Steven Moreira.

Dismissal

Posted at 90'+2'

Second yellow card to Mario Balotelli (Nice).

Booking

Posted at 90'+2'

Steven Moreira (Lorient) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 90'+2'

Valentin Eysseric (Nice) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Walid Mesloub (Lorient).

Posted at 90'+1'

Offside, Nice. Paul Baysse tries a through ball, but Mario Balotelli is caught offside.

Posted at 90'

Mario Balotelli (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Issam Ben Khemis (Lorient).

Booking

Posted at 88'

Valentin Eysseric (Nice) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Valentin Eysseric (Nice).

Posted at 88'

Issam Ben Khemis (Lorient) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 87'

Mario Balotelli (Nice) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

Goal!

Posted at 86'

Goal! Nice 2, Lorient 1. Mario Balotelli (Nice) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Wylan Cyprien.

Booking

Posted at 85'

Cafú (Lorient) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 85'

Valentin Eysseric (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Cafú (Lorient).

Substitution

Posted at 85'

Substitution, Lorient. Issam Ben Khemis replaces Arnold Mvuemba.

Posted at 84'

Attempt missed. Mario Balotelli (Nice) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick.

Posted at 83'

Ricardo Pereira (Nice) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Mohamed Mara (Lorient).

Posted at 81'

Dante (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Majeed Waris (Lorient).

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Valentin Eysseric (Nice) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ricardo Pereira with a cross.

Posted at 79'

Valentin Eysseric (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Michael Ciani (Lorient).

Posted at 78'

Corner, Lorient. Conceded by Dante.

Posted at 78'

Attempt blocked. Jimmy Cabot (Lorient) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Cafú.

Posted at 77'

Offside, Nice. Alassane Pléa tries a through ball, but Mario Balotelli is caught offside.

Substitution

Posted at 76'

Substitution, Nice. Alassane Pléa replaces Mathieu Bodmer.

Posted at 76'

Attempt missed. Zargo Toure (Lorient) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Cafú.

Posted at 75'

Offside, Nice. Valentin Eysseric tries a through ball, but Mario Balotelli is caught offside.

Posted at 74'

Attempt blocked. Walid Mesloub (Lorient) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jimmy Cabot.

Posted at 73'

Attempt blocked. Majeed Waris (Lorient) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Ciani.

Posted at 72'

Corner, Lorient. Conceded by Jean Michael Seri.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Lorient. Majeed Waris replaces Benjamin Moukandjo.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Mathieu Bodmer (Nice).

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