Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli scored 7 minutes into his Ligue 1 debut

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:40 p.m. ET

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Aaron West

Mario Balotelli's had a wild career, to say the least. It looks like he's ready to put it all behind him and just play the game now, though, and he's landed in Nice to get everything back on track. It's going well so far, too. He scored just seven minutes into his debut, netting a penalty against Marseille.

Balotelli calmly stepped up to the penalty spot, tucking his kick into the corner of the net with unerring accuracy. The ball rolled into the net, and Mario "I don't celebrate" Balotelli celebrated by striking his best Cristo Redentor pose. Bafetimbi Gomis tried to get in the way of greatness, but time and tide wait for no man. Balotelli's record from the penalty spot is nearly unmatched, and he's 1/1 in a Nice (nice) shirt.

It's halftime at the time of writing, and Balo's looking engaged, lively and dangerous, but Marseille have equalized. Whatever the outcome, we're fully ensconced in the Nice Balotelli era.

UPDATE: Marseille went ahead from the penalty spot after Bafetimbi Gomis' penalty, but Balotelli grabbed the equalizer for the home side just six minutes later with a towering header.

Wylan Cyprien hammered home the winner for Nice in the 87th minute, ensuring the perfect start to Balotelli's Nice career.

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Mario Balotelli

Nice

Ligue 1

UEFA Europa League