PARIS, March 10 -- Italian striker Mario Balotelli netted the only goal to help Marseille sink his former club Nice 1-0 at home, while Lille tightened their grip on the second position with a 1-0 road victory over Saint-Etienne in the 28th round of Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Balotelli had failed to find the net in 10 league matches in Nice earlier this season, while scoring five goals in seven league appearances since his arrival at Marseille during the winter transfer window.

The Italian forward rose highest inside the area to nod home on a cross from Lucas Ocampos in the 61st minute. He celebrated the goal by mimicking a rock-paper-scissors game with Florian Thauvin.

Thauvin posed an earlier threat around the half hour mark, but just saw his curling shot tipped by goalkeeper Walter Benitez over the crossbar.

After harvesting 16 points from last six games, Marseille narrow the gap with third-placed Lyon by three points, while Nice sit ninth.

Nicolas Pepe scored a winner for Lille three minutes from time. He collected a long pass from teammate, cut inside and fired a shot that deflected off Neven Subotic into the net.

Six-ranked Saint-Etienne had to finish with nine men, as Mathieu Debuchy and Wahbi Khazri were both given marching orders later on.

Lille extend their margin over Lyon to seven points in contention for an automatic qualification to next season's Champions League group stage.

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