Ligue 1 round-up: Mario Balotelli scores twice to tighten Nice's grip on first

Nice's grip on first place in Ligue 1 has been strengthened after Sunday's 2-1 home defeat of Dijon.

Closest challengers Monaco later lost 3-1 at home to Lyon, ensuring the league leaders hold a four-point advantage over them.

A goal in each half from Mario Balotelli, the second a 50th-minute penalty, secured all three points for Nice and came either side of Julio Tavares' 37th-minute penalty for Dijon. The 18th-placed visitors also had Cedric Varrault sent off in the 88th minute.

Second-placed Monaco fell behind to a goal from Lyon's Rachid Ghezzal and then had Benjamin Mendy sent off.

In the second half, further goals from Mathieu Valbuena and Alexandre Lacazette - the latter's coming after Tiemoue Bakayoko had scored Monaco's only goal - secured all three points for the visitors, who are fourth.

Marseille's 2-0 home win over Lille - courtesy of second-half finishes from Bafetimbi Gomis and Florian Thauvin - left the hosts in sixth and the visitors 13th.

There was also an important 3-0 home victory for 16th-placed Caen over Metz, which leaves them two points clear of the bottom three.

Metz, who remain 17th and like Caen have 18 points, were left with 10 men when Milan Bisevac was sent off with them 1-0 down after Yann Karamoh's goal.

Ivan Santini and Pape Sane added further second-half goals.