No Balotelli, no problem: Nice back on top

Paris - Nice coped without the suspended Mario Balotelli to win 1-0 at Saint-Etienne on Sunday and go clear at the top of Ligue 1 once again.

Valentin Eysseric scored the only goal of the game in the second half at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as Nice bounced back from a 1-0 defeat at Caen in its last outing before the international break.

It was the perfect response from Lucien Favre's side in a difficult fixture after its closest rival, Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain, won earlier over the weekend to crank up the pressure on the surprise leaders.

Balotelli has scored six goals in six league appearances since moving to France but served a one-game ban here, so there was more of an onus on seven-goal leading marksman Alassane Plea.

He had little impact in a game of few chances but Nice almost went in front when Ricardo Pereira cut the ball back from the right for Jean Michael Seri, whose shot was turned over by Stephane Ruffier in the Saint-Etienne goal.

The host responded just after the half-hour mark and the unmarked Nolan Roux met a cross by Henri Saivet with his head six yards from goal, only for Yoan Cardinale to save.

Eysseric, who spent last season on loan at Saint-Etienne, then got the breakthrough just after the hour mark.

He got the break of the ball off Loic Perrin on the edge of the box and sent a rising half-volley into the net to silence the home fans.

Nice then held on to move three points clear once again having seen Monaco win 3-0 at Lorient on Friday before defending champions PSG laboured to a 2-0 victory over Nantes on Saturday.