5 things we learned in Ligue 1 this weekend: Lyon opens new ground with dazzling display

With another weekend of Ligue 1 action in the books, we take a look back at five things we learned from the latest slate of matches.

Lyon is unbeatable at home

With a mercurial campaign at the Stade Gerland in the rearview, Lyon hosted Troyes Saturday at its new dazzling Stade des Lumieres, and the 4-1 result was the perfect way to start both 2016 and Bruno Genesio's tenure at the club.

Related: Lyon unveils Stade des Lumieres to mark next chapter of a bright future

A first-half strike from Alexandre Lacazette opened the account at the enormous edifice, before a trio of second-half goals in an 18-minute window from Rachid Ghezzal, Jordan Ferri, and Claudio Beauvue sent the visitors north on the A6 whimpering with its 12th defeat in 20 matches.

The victory, coupled with other results, sees Lyon on 29 points, four shy of third-place Monaco and a coveted Champions League berth.

Olympique Marseille and Le Stade Velo-groan

Confined to mid-table football courtesy of an erratic run of results, Marseille has only its home form to blame for its mediocrity, though numbers would suggest that it shouldn't have been a problem on Sunday.

Michel's men welcomed relegation fodder Guingamp to the Stade Velodrome, and the Breton minnows were reeling, having lost six of seven. Couple that with the fact that Olympique had won six of its last seven home fixtures against the 2014 Coupe de France winners, and smart money would seem to favour the Cote D'Azur side.

The only problem being that Marseille was playing at home, and this season has been one to forget for the locals. With Sunday's 0-0 draw, OM is winless in its last eight Ligue 1 matches at France's largest football stadium with six draws and two defeats. Its two home victories against Bastia and Troyes are good enough for joint-second worst in the league.

Old Man Carvalho turns back the clock

For a top-flight footballer, there are no ointments or magic sprays to slow the certainty of time. The arduous ailments are inescapable, but every so often, a seasoned veteran will again appear as a green tenderfoot.

Monaco centre-back Ricardo Carvalho briefly altered the script in Saturday's 2-2 stalemate with visitors Gazelec Ajaccio. At 37 years and seven months, the Portuguese international became Ligue 1's oldest goal-scorer in 25 years with a 73rd minute glancing header to give the principality side a share of the spoils.

The former Chelsea defender can now proudly share this story with his grandkids when he sees them Monday, time permitting. Dinner is at 4:30.

Saint-Etienne is atrocious away from home

Poised to crack the top-three amid a rejuvenated campaign both domestically and in the Europa League, the only obstacle Saint-Etienne faces is an insipid run of form away from Le Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Les Verts travelled to Nantes on Sunday, and the 2-1 defeat marked six consecutive road losses for Christophe Galtier's lot, its longest spell of futility since November 2000 to March 2001.

Goals from Johan Audel and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson cancelled out a Nolan Roux penalty to give the visitors its seventh away defeat of the season, joint last with drop-zone dwellers Guingamp and Troyes.

Yoann Gourcuff: The walking wounded

Once considered the future of French football, attacking mid Yoann Gourcuff has had a promising career railroaded by injuries. The 29-year-old returned to top-flight football this week with Rennes, where he spent his latter academy days, versus a Lorient side he joined as a six-year-old.

The Champions League winner with AC Milan was subbed on with a quarter of an hour to play, and just before the whistle, was clattered by Rouges et Noir colleague Cheikh M'Bengue. Rennes has announced that the angular embodiment of a treatment table will miss a few days nursing his left ankle, to the surprise of absolutely nobody.

Goals of the Week

Wissam Ben Yedder (Toulouse) vs. Reims

While none of Wissam Ben Yedder's trio of tallies against Reims would leave a Les Pitchouns supporter mouth agape in disbelief, the 25-year-old does merit a shout for another fine performance on the weekend.

Quietly and without much fanfare, Ben Yedder has become one of Ligue 1's most consistent scorers, with 16, 15, and 14 goals over the last three seasons for Toulouse, appearing in 108 of the club's 114 top-flight matches over that span.

Fabien Camus (Troyes) vs. Lyon

Fabien Camus' curling effort against Lyon was the one bright spot for a bottom-dwelling Troyes on Saturday during the unveiling of Le Stade des Lumieres. Take a bow son, that's the Goal of the Week.

A la prochaine, mes amis.