With striker Mario Balotelli rested to protect a sore hip, his replacement Alassane Plea scored the winner as Nice beat struggling Nancy 1-0 to stay top of the French league. Keeping Thursday's Europa League match at Russian side Krasnodar in mind, Nice coach Lucien Favre thought it best to leave out Balotelli and put other regulars on the bench. ''Mario's hip was hurting so it was too risky ... We'll see for Thursday,'' Favre said. More...