Napoli cruised into the Champions League group stage with a 2-0 win at Nice on Tuesday, scoring their first goal as the Ligue 1 side’s striker Mario Balotelli was arguing with match officials on the touchline.

José Callejòn took advantage of Balotelli’s absence in the 48th minute of the play-off round second-leg tie, handing them an away goal which, added to their 2-0 win from the first leg, effectively ended Nice’s challenge as it left the French side needing to score four. Lorenzo Insigne added another goal as the Serie A side completed a comfortable 4-0 aggregate win.

Balotelli, who missed the first leg through injury, was sluggish, off the pace and never threatened the Napoli goal. The Italian was eventually substituted during the second half to jeers from the home fans.

The low point of the striker’s evening came shortly after the start of the second half, when he went over to the touchline and became embroiled in an argument with match officials. The row appeared to centre on a white bandage over his wrist which French media said was covering up a bracelet – banned under the laws of the game.

While Balotelli was arguing, Marek Hamsik crossed from the left and Callejòn, unmarked at the far post, scored easily.

The Nice coach Lucien Favre reacted furiously to the goal while Balotelli continued his discussion with officials. Insigne wrapped things up in the 89th minute, collecting Faouzi Ghoulam’s pass and firing into the corner.

“I don’t want to comment on Balotelli,” Favre said afterwards. “It wasn’t very satisfactory, it was not good enough.” He also complained that Balotelli was too slow in leaving the field when he was substituted.

Napoli’s win ended a dismal run for Italy in the final play-off round. Serie A teams have lost at the same stage of the competition in the last three seasons, and it will be the first time since 2013-14 that Italy have had three teams in the group stage.

Sevilla survive scare to seal group stage place

Sevilla suffered a fright, going 1-0 down at home to Istanbul Basaksehir, before drawing 2-2 to win 4-3 on aggregate in another of Tuesday’s ties. Eduardo Berizzo’s side had won the first leg 2-1 in Istanbul, but Eljero Elia’s goal after 17 minutes levelled the tie. In the second half goals from Sergio Escudero and Wissam Ben Yedder swung the contest back in Sevilla’s favour before Edin Visca’s late goal for the visitors set up a nervous finale.

Slovenia’s champions, Maribor, overcame Israel’s Hapoel Beer-Sheva on away goals after a 1-0 home win in the second leg gave them a 2-2 aggregate, and Olympiakos beat Rijeka 1-0 away to qualify 3-1 on aggregate, Marko Marin’s goal securing victory and denying the Croatian champions a first-ever group stage appearance.