Marseille have the best weapons for Lyon hunt

If anybody can stop Lyon from running away with a seventh successive title in the Ligue 1 season kicking off this weekend, then it is Marseille.

Last year's runners-up, Marseille were the only ones to make headlines during a quiet close season, notably purchasing solid central defender Gael Givet from Monaco and skilful Algeria midfielder Karim Ziani from Sochaux.

The southerners, starting their season by visiting promoted Racing Strasbourg today, also retained young playmaker Samir Nasri, being hailed as the new Zinedine Zidane, and convinced Liverpool to make France striker Djibril Cisse's stay permanent.

By contrast, Lyon hardly caused a stir. They purchased midfielders Mathieu Bodmer and Kader Keita from Lille and lost quality players like France midfielder Florent Malouda and Portugal midfielder Tiago to Chelsea and Juventus respectively.

Marseille, however, remain cautious, pointing out that Lyon are the favourites and naming another second place as their target for the season.

"We know what is expected from us and we also know all the other teams will want to beat us," Marseille coach Albert Emon said.

"Our aim is second place for a Champions League berth. My money is on Lyon finishing first and Marseille second."

Lyon, who will entertain Auxerre in their opening match tomorrow, are as ambitious as ever.

They have a new coach in Alain Perrin, replacing Gerard Houllier, and will be hard to beat, especially if exciting young forwards Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Harfa keep improving.

"Our goal is a seventh title, that's very clear," Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said.

Aulas, obviously, would also love to see Lyon, who have never advanced beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League, make an impact in Europe at last.

"I would really like to see us do well in the European Cup and the domestic cups," he said.

Other contenders include Bordeaux, with their rock-solid defence and traditional frontrunners Monaco and Paris SG, who will be determined to make amends for their disastrous runs last season.