Lokomotiv Moscow holds off Nice to reach Europa League last 16

Mario Balotelli hit the woodwork twice as Lokomotiv Moscow eliminated Nice on Thursday to reach the last 16 of the Europa League for the first time in club history.

Despite the Italian's best intentions, Nice couldn't overcome the 3-2 defeat suffered in last week's first leg, losing 1-0 in the reverse fixture at Lokomotiv Stadium.

Vitaliy Denisov capitalised on a poor clearance attempt inside Nice's area, his low drive in the 30th minute securing the aggregate victory for the Russian Premier League table-topper.

Les Aiglons lost complete control of the tie in a manic first leg. Balotelli scored twice within the first half hour, only to watch his team collapse during a calamitous second half in which Lokomotiv's Manuel Fernandes struck a hat-trick.

Nice has taken a massive tumble since finishing third in Ligue 1 last season. Dumped out of the Champions League in the preliminary rounds, the Mediterranean side is now winless in six matches, out of Europe altogether, and down to ninth place in the French standings.