| Nice’s Mario Balotelli in action against St. Etienne’s Leo Lacroix. |
Mario Balotelli was sent off as Nice moved up to second in Ligue 1 after Wylan Cyprien’s first-half goal earned them a 1-0 win at bottom side Lorient on Saturday.
Italian striker Balotelli picked up a straight red card when he argued with referee Tony Chapron in the 68th minute but Nice held firm to secure victory thanks to Cyprien’s 15th-minute effort.
Nice have 56 points from 26 games, three behind leaders Monaco who were held to a 1-1 draw at Bastia on Friday.
French champions Paris St Germain will reclaim second place and move within one point of Monaco if they beat Toulouse at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
Cyprien put Nice ahead with a fine right-footed effort from the visitors’ first clear chance.
The hosts went close 10 minutes into the second half but Nice keeper Yoan Cardinale denied Zargo Toure and Francois Bellugou in quick succession.
The defeat left Lorient with 22 points, five from safety.
Summaries from the Ligue 1 matches on Sunday
Girondins Bordeaux 3 Francois Kamano 13, Nicolas Pallois 43, Gaetan Laborde 71
En Avant de Guingamp 0
Saturday, February 18
Caen 0
Lille 1 Anwar El Ghazi 69
Angers SCO 1 Jonathan Bamba 5
AS Nancy-Lorraine 0
FC Lorient 0
Nice 1 Wylan Cyprien 15
Metz 1 Cheick Diabate 90+1pen
Nantes 1 Valentin Rongier 68
Olympique Marseille 2 Clinton Njie 59, Florian Thauvin 64
Stade Rennes 0
Friday, February 17
Bastia 1 Abdoulaye Sadio Diallo 19
Monaco 1 Bernardo Silva 52
Halftime: 1-0;Attendance: 10,059