After a 15-minute turn at the Parc des Princes, Mario Balotelli produced an accomplished performance in the Coupe de la Ligue in Bordeaux on Wednesday. Despite Les Aiglons' loss (2-3), the centre-forward made his mark. Worked. Scored. Yes, Super Mario is back - in his characteristic style, mixing power and finesse.

He hadn't started a match since the loss in Caen, thanks to suspension and injury, but he marked his return to the teamsheet with the instep of his right boot. In fine fettle, the Italy international was involved in all Le Gym's good moves in Bordeaux. Fielded alongside Alassane Plea at the front of a 3-5-2, it was he who set up Nice's top scorer to pull one back at the end of the first half. Before that, he caused the first spark of an evening in which Nice's light would ultimately sputter out, latching onto a canny pass and only just missing Prior's goal with an astute lob (27').

With 49 balls played, the number nine was evidently a target man for his teammates. In a game that demands the taking of risks, he won more than half of his challenges (53%) and proved accurate with almost two-thirds of his passes (65%), all the while using his physique to lose his marker or press the opponents hard (five fouls suffered, two committed). Sometimes too much, as the striker earned a yellow card just before the end of the match for a slightly over-zealous shoulder-to-shoulder challenge (86').

He also took the opportunity of returning to the starting line-up to hit the goal trail once more. From a penalty earned by Tassos Donis in the 83rd minute - which came just after another sublime pass from the Italian - he made no mistake and bagged his eighth goal of the season (in all competitions).

The goal could also have been accompanied by a second assist for the evening. Before Le Gym had reduced the gap, he conjured a deft nod-down, and then in the final minutes, he rounded the 'keeper and cut back for Donis. 

But Max Le Marchand's header flew over and the Greek striker's shot was blocked by Pallois' leg…

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