Balotelli scores brace as Nice down Marseille

Former Liverpool striker struck twice on his debut for Les Aiglons on Sunday

PARIS: Former Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli struck twice on his Nice debut to help his new side defeat Mediterranean rivals Marseille 3-2 in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Balotelli, signed on a free transfer after being allowed to leave Anfield, converted a seventh-minute penalty to open the scoring at the Allianz Riviera and struck again to level 12 minutes from time.

Florian Thauvin had equalised for Marseille and Bafetimbi Gomis' 72nd-minute spot-kick then put the visitors ahead, but Balotelli's second of the game set up a thrilling finale with Wylan Cyprien's long-range shot bursting through the hands of Yohann Pele.

"Two goals, it's a good first match, he hasn't needed any time to adapt," said Nice captain Paul Baysse of Balotelli, as the hosts moved level on points with Monaco at the top.

Nice coach Lucien Favre also praised the Italian striker, but also said that he still has a lot to prove for the Ligue 1 side. "His [Balotelli] last match was several months ago. Tonight he gave us 90 minutes, although we had planned to take him off at some stage. It's just one match, he still has a lot of work to do and he knows that.”