Watch: Balotelli nets brace on Nice debut

Mario Balotelli, welcome back.

The Allianz Riviera has its newest hero, after the enigmatic Italian striker bagged his opening goal for Nice in his first match on Sunday, calmly slotting home a penalty in the seventh minute to hand the Cote d'Azur side an advantage over Marseille. It was his first league goal since Sept. 22.

Not even an incensed Bafetimbi Gomis could break Balotelli's focus.

That lead didn't last long, as Olympique's Florian Thauvin levelled matters seven minutes later with a thunderous right-footed effort.

An impassioned Gomis scored from the spot in the 72nd minute, only for Balotelli to nullify that with his second of the match courtesy of a darting run from Ricardo Pereira.