Mario Balotelli scored twice on debut for OGC Nice in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday.

The Italian striker, who joined Nice from Liverpool on a free transfer on deadline day, opened the scoring for the riviera club with a seventh-minute penalty.

The goal was his first league strike since September last year.

Newcastle United loanee Florian Thauvin and Swansea City's Bafetimbi Gomis put Marseille 2-1 up before Balotelli levelled on 78 minutes prior to Nice wrapping it up on 87 minutes through Wylan Cyprien.

It was the perfect start for Balotelli as he helped Nice join Monaco on top of the France top flight with 10 points from four outings.

In the process, Balotelli also became the first player since 2000 to score penalties in Ligue 1, the Premier League and Serie A, following Zlatan Ibrahimovic.