Ligue 1 runners-up Lyon get their new campaign underway on Sunday when they host Lorient at the Stade de Gerland.
After battling Paris Saint-Germain impressively for much of last season, the pressure will be on Hubert Fournier's men to make a winning start against a side that narrowly avoided relegation.
Lyon
© Getty Images
In a thrilling Ligue 1 title race, Lyon appeared to be many people's favourites to finish at the top of the table last season as Fournier's young side impressed with their style and resilience before eventually falling away late in the campaign.
Despite the disappointment of finishing eight points behind champions PSG, a moment of reflection should offer the Lyon supporters hope for the future as they look to prove that they can remain among the league's elite for many years to come.
After dominating French football for so many years in the last decade, Lyon only looked to be heading in one direction at one stage before taking a giant leap forward in their development to produce a stronger challenge for the title than many people would have expected.
In the end, PSG never looked back after the door was opened to them in the second half of the season, but Fournier will certainly take the positives from pushing one of the wealthiest clubs in the world for so long.
Lyon have no chance of matching the fees or wages offered by PSG, and the supporters would have been forgiven for thinking that the squad would be torn apart this summer, but keeping top goalscorer Alexandre Lacazette perhaps shows the direction they are going in.
The seven-time winners learned the hard way just how consistent they will have to be to edge out PSG this season, and anything less than a strong display on Sunday could make the fans nervous after the 2-0 defeat to the champions in last weekend's Super Cup made it five losses from six games in pre-season.
Pre-season form: LLWLLL
Lorient
© Getty Images
Sylvain Ripoll starts the new season with the task of ensuring that Lorient do not face the same nervy finish that almost dragged them into Ligue 2 before vital results late in the campaign saved them from relegation.
Finishing six points and two places above the relegation zone was certainly a relief following their struggles in the winter, but it was their performances in getting out of trouble which arguably frustrates their fan base even more.
A 5-3 triumph over Marseille was a contender for game of the season, and the free-flowing football shown over the course of those 90 minutes suggests that there is more to come from the squad which Ripoll inherited from Christian Gourcuff.
However, it soon felt inevitable that the summer transfer window would not be Lorient's friend as top goalscorer Jordan Ayew left for Aston Villa in a deal worth more than £8m, and it is Moryke Fofana, who joined from Lillestrom last month, who will be expected to replace the goals.
After successive eighth-place finishes, last season came as a shock as Ripoll made a difficult start to his reign, and with the pressure on improving the club's youngsters, Sunday's meeting with a title contender will be a good measure of where Lorient stand.
Pre-season form: DLDD
Team News
© Getty Images
Fournier will be without a number of key players for the opener after Maxime Gonalons joined Nabil Fekir on the suspended list by picking up a red card against PSG last weekend.
Clement Grenier and Clinton N'Jie are still battling injuries which kept them out of that match, and neither look set to be available for Sunday, but new signing Rafael could be handed his debut after joining from Manchester United.
Lorient will be without Rafidine Abdullah due to suspension, but with no injury issues in the squad, Ripoll still has a strong pool to choose from for the opening test of the season.
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes, Rafael, Kone, Budimo, Umtiti, Ferri, Tolisso, Mvuemba, Benzia, Ghezzal, Lacazette
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Lecomte, Kone, Gassama, Lautoa, Guerreiro, Jouffre, Mostefa, Mesloub, Philippoteaux , Ndong, Fofana
Head To Head
Fekir and N'Jie will both be missing for Lyon at the weekend, and Lorient supports certainly will not mind not seeing the duo after they both found the net in a 4-0 victory for the hosts at the Stade de Gerland last September.
The departed Ayew was on target when Lorient earned a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, but the Brittany-based club have only managed to celebrate one win in the last 10 meetings between the two sides in all competitions.
We say: Lyon 2-0 Lorient
Despite being without some of their key men, Lyon should still be strong enough to start the season with three points at home. Last week's defeat in the Super Cup may have been expected, but Fournier will be desperate to see his side kick off the new campaign with a morale-boosting victory led by Lacazette, whose presence in the squad ensure that they remain a big threat to every side.
Callum Mulvihill
