Last weekend, it was a pitch invader. This time out, it was a Christmas hat.
Mario Balotelli doesn’t shire away from the spotlight, as so many in the Premier League found out during his spells at Liverpool and Manchester City, and continued to prove his doubters wrong on Sunday with the match-winner against Bordeaux.
The Italian, scoring his second winning goal in a week, was on hand to fire home in the first half and move Nice up to sixth in Ligue 1.
Mario Balotelli got into the Christmas spirit on Sunday night as he celebrated Nice’s win
The Italian scored his second winning goal in a week in Nice’s 1-0 win over Bordeaux
His strike secured his 10th league goal in 13 games this season, as well as his fifth in five
Having already also volleyed the winner for Nice the previous week, the 27-year-old was no doubt in high spirits and unsurprisingly paraded the Allianz Riviera donning a Santa Claus hat upon his head after the game. Rightly so, having gifted the Nice supporters with an early Christmas present.
Nice were languishing in the relegation zone three weeks ago after a 5-0 home defeat by Lyon. But four straight wins – in which Balotelli has scored in each – have lifted coach Lucien Favre’s side away from trouble.
It was his 10th goal in only 13 games so far this season – now five goals from five – and it seems everything the Italian touches turns to gold.
The 27-year-old has been a dominant force this season and led the Nice charge
The Italian gifted the home support with an early Christmas present at the Allianz Riviera
Balotelli joined the Christmas-themed celebrations after the narrow victory on the weekend
It was the visitors, though, who enjoyed the early chances. Firstly, Nicolas de Preville cut in from the right to fire his left-footed attempt wide-right of Walter Benitez’s goal.
A quarter-of-an-hour passed before the second would come, and again would narrowly miss post. Youssouf Sabaly found space on the edge of the box to miss, but this time to the left of the Nice goal.
The hosts, though, having weathered the early but seemingly harmless storm by their guests, would capitalise on their first real chance to take the lead, through Balotelli of course.
The Italian was quickest to react to Pierre Lees-Melou’s header across goal to volley in with less than 10 minutes to go in the first half – following on nicely from the volley that secured the three points at Nantes last time out.
A yellow card and a short delay through injury followed for the Italian frontman, but he was able to continue and had an attempt at a second denied shortly after the restart.
Found by Jean Michael Seri, Balotelli blasted an effort towards goal, which proved to be too central and subsequently blocked away by Jerome Prior between the away sticks.
The visitors will feel the result is unjust after numerous decisions going against them
Veteran Jeremy Toulalan despares after the referee gives a decision against his team-mates
The visiting goalkeeper Jerome Prior gave his all to keep the home attacking onslaught out
Prior, though, would be eventually be beaten by Balotelli’s first-half match-winning strike
Bordeaux made a bright start to the campaign, climbing up to third in late September, but are now moving in the opposite direction, dropping to 15th, and showed little sign of any fight as the half progressed.
The visitors created few opportunities to really threaten the Nice goal, and when they did, were extremely wasteful.
Francois Kamano pulled his effort from the right of the box wide, before Lukas Lerager squandered one of the few chances from inside the 18-yard line as he headed over from close range on the hour mark.
Kamano would eventually be replaced by Jonathan Cafu, who looked a bright spark in an otherwise dismal underwhelming visiting outfit, and had a good opportunity smothered by the home defence late on.
In a night full of near-misses and wastefulness, it was only right Balotelli would steal the limelight at the Allianz Riviera.
Strike partner Alassane Plea came close to doubling Nice’s lead but had his effort denied
Balotelli has been a focal point in Nice’s revival after climbing from relegation danger to sixth