(Roundup)Nice open 4-point lead, Monaco beaten

Nice beat Lyon 2-0 despite Mario Balotelli's missed penalty, while Monaco's loss to Toulouse on Friday handed Nice the chance to extend their lead to four points at the top of Ligue 1.

The Azurean side, who started with Italian striker Balotelli up front, prevailed at home thanks to goals by Paul Baysse and Jean-Michael Seri, who found the back of the net either side of the interval.

Lyon played more than two thirds of the game with 10 men after forward Nabil Fekir was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Baysse in the 28th minute.

Balotelli should have added a sixth Ligue 1 goal of the season through a penalty in the 81st minute after being fouled in the box by Jordy Gaspar, but his tame effort was kept out by Lopes.

Baysse opened the scoring for Nice just five minutes into the game as Malang Sarr nodded a looping delivery into his path to rifle past Anthony Lopes with a neat volley from inside the area.

Seri added the second with 14 minutes left, firing home a bobbling shot into the left-hand corner after Younes Belhanda's strike bounced onto the post.

Nice now have 23 points from nine games, leading second-placed Monaco, who lost 3-1 at Toulouse, by four points, while Lyon are fifth on 13 points.

Earlier on the day, Monaco wasted a one-goal lead as Toulouse fought back following Valere Germain's fourth-minute opener.

The hosts equalized through Oscar Trejo in the 65th before Martin Braithwaite struck twice in the 84th and 87th minutes.

Toulouse are third on 17 points.

On Saturday, Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain will visit bottom team Nancy and an away win will move them four points behind Nice and ahead of Monaco on goal difference. Endit