Nice go top again, St-Etienne beat Lille

Nice beat struggling Nancy 1-0 away with new comer Mario Balotelli rested on Sunday to go top of the French Ligue 1 again, while Saint-Etienne beat bottom team Lille 3-1 at home.

Alassane Plea's clinical score from inside the penalty area in the 61st minute clinched Nice their fifth win from seven games this season, holding a one-point advantage over Monaco.

Champions Paris St Germain are four points off the pace in fourth spot after a 2-0 defeat on Friday at third-placed Toulouse who are a point above them on 14.

The defeat leaves Nancy without a home league win this season and they remain second from bottom in the table.

Nancy made all the early running and carved out numerous first-half chances, but the visitors improved after the break and Plea struck his fourth goal of the season, drilling home a low shot following Valentin Eysseric's pass.

Keeping Thursday's Europa League match at Russian side Krasnodar in mind, Nice coach Lucien Favre opted to leave out four-goal scorer Balotelli and put other regulars on the bench.

The Italian international has made a strong start to his career in France, scoring two league goals on his debut against Marseille and two others in this week's 4-0 against Monaco.

In an earlier game on Sunday, Saint-Etienne stretched their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions with a 3-1 victory over Lille to move up to seventh place, while the bottom opponents have four points.

Robert Beric's third league goal of the campaign set the home side on their way, teenage midfielder Arnaud Nordin claimed the second and Nolan Roux struck in stoppage time. Renato Civelli hit back for Lille.

Later in the evening, Marseille beat Nantes 2-1 at home to climb up to the 13th place, while the latters stay on third from bottom. Endit