Ligue 1 review: Balotelli nets Marseille winner against former club Nice

Mario Balotelli scored against his former club as Marseille extended their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to six games with a 1-0 victory over Nice at Stade Velodrome.

The Italy striker netted his fifth goal in seven matches as Rudi Garcia’s side narrowed the gap on third-placed Lyon to three points.

Balotelli, who left Nice last January to join Marseille, headed home in the 61st minute to leave his old club lingering in ninth place.

Nicolas Pepe scored his 17th league goal of the season to earn second-placed Lille a 1-0 win at St Etienne, who ended the game with nine men.

Mathieu Debuchy and Wahbi Khazri were sent off in added time, shortly after Pepe had scored what proved to be the winner in the 87th minute.

Christophe Galtier’s side have opened up a seven-point gap over Lyon in third but they are 14 points adrift of leaders Paris St Germain, who have two games in hand.

Angers battled back from two goals down with 10 men to snatch an unlikely 2-2 draw against Montpellier.

Andy Delort and Ellyes Skhiri had put Montpellier 2-0 up inside the opening 16 minutes at Stade De La Mosson.

Angers then had Mateo Pavlovic sent off in the 73rd minute but Angelo Fulgini and Stephane Bahoken secured a remarkable point with goals in the final 10 minutes.

Yaya Sanogo scored the only goal as Toulouse won 1-0 at home to bottom side Guingamp, who had Marcus Coco sent off in the first half.

Benjamin Bourigeaud, Adrien Hunou and M’Baye Niang grabbed the goals as Rennes beat 10-man Caen 3-1.

Casimir Ninga had put Caen in front after 20 minutes but Yoel Armougom’s red card in the 35th minute was the catalyst for the defeat.