Mario Balotelli scored a brilliant late winner before being sent off in stoppage time against Lorient as Nice moved top of Ligue 1 with a dramatic 2-1 victory.
The 86th-minute strike, a superb finish into the top corner after being set up by Wylan Cyprien flick, gave Lucien Favre's men a win that moved them back above Monaco at the top of the table.
That looked like the perfect response from Balotelli after he was left out of Giampiero Ventura's Italy squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Macedonia despite a start to the season that has seen him score six goals in all competitions.
The late drama came after Lorient had pegged back Nice after they had taken a lead through Ricardo Pereira's low strike, which goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte should have kept out on 11 minutes.
Lorient's equaliser came on 61 minutes, a neat passing move resulting in Benjamin Moukandjo sliding in his finish after Mohamed Mara's throughball.
51 - has scored 1 goal every 51 minutes in Ligue 1 2016/17, best rate among the Top 5 European Leagues (min. 5 goals). Back.October 2, 2016
