Mario Balotelli scores a brilliant late winner for Nice ... then sees RED minutes later

Mario Balotelli scored an 86th-minute winner for Nice against Lorient to move his side back to the top of Ligue 1, before getting sent off in stoppage time.

A brilliantly taken goal should have meant another glorious chapter in the Italian striker's early career in France, but Nice will now be without him for their match at home to Lyon.

Balotelli has now scored five goals in his three appearances in Ligue 1, helping fire Nice to the summit above reigning multiple champions Paris Saint-Germain - who ominously hammered Metz 7-0 earlier in the weekend.

Balotelli's red card was for two yellow cards and if the first seemed a bit silly from Balotelli, the second exhibited a frankly laughable absence of common sense on the part of the referee.

Balotelli will have know that removing his shirt in the wild celebrations that followed his late goal would more than likely result in a booking - for that he is responsible.

But in the 92nd minute, his 'coming-together' with Lorient's Steven Moreira resulted in a yellow card to each man, and that meant Balotelli was off. The offence constituted the merest brushing of heads.

Fans on social media also pointed out that, of the two, Balotelli was hardly the aggressor.

[UK telegraph]