Marseille appear to be the only team capable of preventing Lyon chalking up their seventh successive Ligue 1 crown, ahead of the resumption of French top-flight hostilities this weekend.

Les Gones head into the new season as heavy favourites to continue their domestic dominance and claim another title.

They have signed Italy left-back Fabio Grosso, as well as former Lille duo Mathieu Bodmer and Kader Keita, to cover for the departures of key personnel Florent Malouda, Eric Abidal and Tiago in the close season.

There is, however, the feeling that Marseille - the sleeping giant of French football - may at last be stirring.

OM have recruited well in the summer, bringing in seasoned internationals such as Boudewijn Zenden, Djibril Cisse and Karim Ziani as well as Ligue 1 stalwarts Gael Givet and Benoit Cheyrou.

With gifted playmaker Samir Nasri - the "new Zidane" - still on their books, they suddenly look to have a squad that could compete with Les Gones this season as they aim to win their first league title since 1992.

They also have Champions League football to look forward to following their second-placed finish last term.

Cisse, who moved from Liverpool for around £6million after spending last campaign on loan at the Stade Velodrome, said: "Who am I afraid of this season? Not Lyon.

"I think they are not going to be as good. It has to happen one day."

Aside from OM, no other team seems equipped to challenge Les Gones, who are one of a number of teams to have changed their coach over the summer.

Alain Perrin left his post at Sochaux to replace Gerard Houllier at the helm, with Sochaux bringing in Frederic Hantz from Le Mans as a result.

Sochaux are back in Europe, in the UEFA Cup, after winning the Coupe de France last season and that could have an adverse effect on their league campaign.

The same could be said of Toulouse, who will play in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League in a bid to make the tournament proper for the first time in their history.

Which teams are likely to be challenging the European spots this season, then?

Rennes, fourth last time round, will be there or thereabouts, although they have lost key players such as Jacques Faty and Mario Melchiot in the summer and already have Romain Danze and Daniel Moreira on the long-term injury list.

Lens and Bordeaux are teams to look out for after appointing a couple of famous names as coaches.

Veteran Guy Roux, who made his name at Auxerre, is in charge at Le Sang et Or and will look to use all his know-how to better the side's fifth-placed finish of last season.

Bordeaux, meanwhile, have given former France defender Laurent Blanc his first top-flight coaching role. He could have a tough time, with the club having sold the likes of Rio Mavuba and Julien Faubert in the close season.

The dark horses could by Monaco, who showed gradual improvement last season after a dreadful start and still have the twin threats of Jan Koller and France's Frederic Piquionne up front. They will be coached by former Bordeaux boss Ricardo.

Paris St Germain will be hoping for a much-improved campaign, having flirted with relegation for much of last season.

Coach Paul Le Guen is yet to make a top-class acquisition for the new term, though, and they could be set for another year of mediocrity.

Metz, Strasbourg and Caen are the promoted clubs this time round, and staying up will be their priority.

They should be competing with the likes of Valenciennes, Lorient and Nice to avoid the drop.