Watch: Balotelli bags 2nd brace of young Nice career

Keep on hating, and Mario Balotelli will keep on scoring.

The embattled Italian striker scored his second brace of the season for OGC Nice in Wednesday's 4-0 annihilation of AS Monaco, launching the south coast side to the top of Ligue 1 for the first time since January 2003.

Teammate Younes Belhanda found Balotelli streaking down the right side to tee up the former AC Milan poacher for his first goal of the night.

Balotelli's second strike was an easy finish, but only because of his movement.

The 26-year-old now has four tallies in two league outings for the French outfit.