Football United

When the new Ligue 1 season kicks off on Friday, Olympique Lyonnais, winners of the last three French titles, can expect serious challenges from Olympique de Marseille, AS Monaco FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC.

More Lyon success
After the impressive performance of French teams in last season's European competitions, the championship race will attract more attention than for a long time. Lyon underlined their claim last weekend by lifting the Super Cup for the third year running with a 7-6 penalty shoot-out victory against PSG after a 1-1 draw, but have lost a number of key players.

Defensive worries
Vikash Dhorasoo has joined AC Milan while defenders Edmílson, Eric Deflandre and Patrick Müller have departed along with striker Péguy Luyindula. The money banked has improved the club's financial position but put pressure on playing resources.

Frau signs in
Eric Abidal, signed from Lille OSC, and Claudio Caçapa are the new centre-back pairing while former FC Sochaux-Montbéliard forward Pierre-Alain Frau has boosted Lyon's attack alongside Giovane Elber and Sidney Govou.

Fourth title sought
"It's a mix of young players who are unknown at the moment and older, more experienced players," said coach Paul Le Guen, who has targeted a fourth title and another promising UEFA Champions League campaign after last season's run to the quarter-finals.

PSG look to Nantes
PSG will aim to go one better than last term when they were runners-up - and their French Cup triumph showed they are on the right path. Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic has raided FC Nantes Atlantique for Colombian Mario Yepes, considered by many the best centre-back in Ligue 1, defender Jean-Hugues Ateba and midfielder Sylvain Armand.

Rothen returns
The Parisians have also acquired left-winger Jérôme Rothen, a central figure in Monaco's Champions League exploits who should exert a similar influence at the Parc des Princes. Rothen's departure adds to Monaco's problems after a summer in which they waved goodbye to Fernando Morientes (Real Madrid CF), Dado Pršo (Rangers FC), captain Ludovic Giuly (FC Barcelona) and Jorge Ibarra (RCD Espanyol).

'We're not ready'
Coach Didier Deschamps said: "We're not fully ready", although four internationals have arrived in the principality in Brazilian defender Maicon, Sierra Leone's Mohamed Kallon and Uruguayans Ernesto Javier Chevanton and Diego Pérez.

Marseille splash out
Didier Drogba's transfer to Chelsea FC has enabled Marseille to fund the acquisition of a number of players including French internationals Bixente Lizarazu and Benoît Pedretti and PSG captain Frédéric Déhu.

'Better than Lyon'
Their most recent capture was Luyindula who said: "I want to play in the best team and Marseille have a better team than Lyon." José Anigo's side also have an easier schedule owing to their absence from European competition.

Other challengers
Ligue 1's strength does not just reside with that quartet, however, and 1998 champions RC Lens hope to show the fruits of their rebuilding programme. AJ Auxerre can never be discounted and Sochaux, who enter the UEFA Cup after winning the League Cup, should also be capable of worrying the big guns.

St Etienne aim to stay
AS Saint-Etienne, a former power in French football, feature in the top flight again and will seek to prolong their stay along with other promoted sides SM Caen and FC Istres, who are at this level for the first time in 84 years.

Source: Uefa.com