Who can catch Lyon?

Who can catch Olympique Lyonnais? No one, appears to be the answer as France gears up for the new season. FC Girondins de Bordeaux, runners-up last term, heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain FC and Olympique de Marseille, and Claude Puel's ever-improving LOSC Lille Métropole aim to raise the suspense. But when a team has just won a record fifth straight title with a record points haul (84) and by a record margin (15), it is difficult to make the case for any challenger.

'Biggest challenge'
"You might think adding another crown is easy for us," Lyon midfielder Juninho Pernambucano said. "But every season it gets harder. We're always the biggest challenge facing every team." The Brazilian, one of four to have played in all five of Lyon's triumphs, could have said that last year, or in any one of the three seasons prior to that. "Continuity is the key," coach Gérard Houllier added, so much so that his rivals are still trying to imitate Lyon's approach. So far the students have not got near to surpassing the masters.

'Seize the day'
Lille are top of the class. Puel has managed largely to hold on to the squad that knocked Manchester United FC out of the UEFA Champions League last autumn, but it is a measure of Lyon's dominance that Lille, the third-best club in the country in 2005/06, would be happy to preserve the status quo. "Our main objective will not be to edge out Lyon, but to remain in the top three," captain Grégory Tafforeau said. "Should they misfire we must be there to seize the day." Ensuring they keep their UEFA Champions League place, however, remains the priority, though they are the only side to have regularly upset the champions of late, defeating them in three of their last four league ties.

Micoud important
Continuity is also the buzz word at Bordeaux, who have recruited just one new face, albeit a familiar one and one that could change the dynamics of the team. Johan Micoud will add an offensive spark to Ligue 1's best defence and brings a glimmer of hope with him following his experiences battling FC Bayern München in Germany. "We hope to push Lyon as far as we can," the ex-Werder Bremen playmaker said. "When I arrived at Bremen, Bayern were like Lyon and we finally beat them [in 2003/04]." It will be interesting to see how well Bordeaux combine domestic and UEFA Champions League commitments.

Monaco ambition
AS Monaco FC have no such distractions. Laszlo Bölöni is the new man in charge, imposing Czech international Jan Koller the chief arrival. "Something is starting here and I wanted to be part of it," summer signing Jérémy Menez said. Even Marseille and PSG have stressed the importance of stability. If they can avoid the trouble off the pitch that has marred previous campaigns, both boast the players and support capable of leading the challenge.

'No predictions'
PSG will rely heavily on Ligue 1's top scorer Pedro Pauleta and French international goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau, who has joined from FC Nantes Atlantique. "We won't make any predictions," said new president Pierre Cayzac. "We'll see how we start but battling Lyon is not our main goal." The UEFA Cup will increase the burden, but will not be accepted as an excuse if PSG fail to improve on last term's ninth-place finish.

Marseille hopeful
Marseille too have plenty of talented players to shout about. None more so than Franck Ribéry who is already the leader of Albert Emon's side. The arrival of promising youngsters Ronald Zubar and Matthieu Valbuena also give hope for the future, but Marseille president Pape Diouf wants success now. Lyon, though, still look likely to have the last laugh.

This is an abridged version of an article that appears in this week's edition of the uefa.com Magazine. To read the feature in full, click here.