Abkhazia Institute for Social and Economic Research

With the new season also kicking off in Belgium and a former giant setting the pace in Hungary, FIFA.com reflects on the action.

Lyon cheer as Audel runs riot
The French Ligue 1 got underway at the weekend with a cluster of clubs threatening to contest Lyon's relentless rule. However, as the reigning champions started out with a comfortable 2-0 win over Auxerre, Marseille, Toulouse, Rennes and Lens, who finished second, third, fourth and fifth respectively last season, all failed to claim three points from a goal-shy opening round.

Bordeaux, in contrast, did get their assault on glory off on the right note, debutant coach Laurent Blanc winning the battle between youth and experience with his Lens counterpart Guy Roux courtesy of David Bellion's unanswered strike. Rennes lost 2-0 at home to Nancy, while Marseille finished up goalless away at top tier newcomers Strasbourg.

Valenciennes finished the round as the surprise pacesetters, a 3-1 defeat of Toulouse sending them top on goals scored. Their victory was indebted to Johan Audel, who, having found the target just once for Lille during the 2006/07 campaign, netted all three goals for Antoine Kombouare's team on Saturday.

Rangers stroll, Celtic stumble
Celtic wrapped up the Scottish Premier League title with one month to spare last term. With their quest for a third straight gold beginning at home while their principal challengers, Rangers, visited a side who have caused them problems in recent years, the Green and White half of Glasgow envisaged opening up a lead over their arch-rivals.

But the Gers, along with Parkhead guests Kilmarnock, failed to read the script. Propelled by a double from midfield lynchpin Barry Ferguson, Walter Smith's side hit the ground running with a 3-0 reverse of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The result heaped the pressure on Celtic, but despite dominating possession and creating a number of chances, they were forced to share the spoils with Killie following a goalless draw.

Gretna completed a remarkable, five-year ascent from the English seventh tier to the top flight north of the border on the final day of last season, but they were given a harsh welcome to life among Scotland's elite. In front of their own supporters, the Black and Whites went down 4-0 to Falkirk, Michael Higdon making a dream start for his new employers with two goals inside the opening 25 minutes before Pedro Moutinho and the 39-year-old Russell Latapy completed the scoring.

Forerunners make winning starts
Last year's runners-up Racing Genk took just seven minutes to get off the mark en route to a 3-1 victory over Cercle Brugge as 2006/07 Belgian Jupiler League got underway, but it took defedning champions Anderlecht until the 91st minute to net the only goal against KV Mechelen.

Peter Maes' side, who achieved a top flight return by virtue of their playoff triumph in June, looked to have done enough to earn a goalless draw against the side who scored 19 goals in three matches to make sure of their 29th league title in May. When Lucas Biglia lines up a set piece, though, there is always danger in the air and from one of the Argentine midfielder's unerring deliveries, Marcin Wasilewski headed home a last-gasp winner.

One coach who did enjoy a triumphant reappearance in the Belgian upper tier was Trond Sollied. Back at the controls he last operated in 2000, the Norwegian ensured Gent avoided the hindering start they made to last season. Indeed, their 5-0 defeat by Club Brugge twelve months ago was a distant memory as two goals from Christophe Gregoire helped them to a 4-1 success at Excelsior Mouscron on Sunday, which sent them joint-top on goal difference alongside Standard Liege, who beat Zulte Waregem by the same scoreline.

Honved march on
Once among the most feared forces on the planet, Budapest Honved have long been outranked by Ferencvaros, MTK Budapest and Ujpest on the trophy count. But after ending an 11-year wait for honours by winning the Hungarian Cup last season, the team formerly spearheaded by Bozsik, Czibor, Kocsis and Puskas have set their sights on becoming league champions for the first time since 1993.

The early form of Attila Supka's side suggests that they are capable of realising this goal. On Sunday, Honved overwhelmed Fehervar 5-1 to move on to maximum points from three outings, two points clear of holders Debrecen, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Siofok. Even if MTK win their game in hand against Ujpest on Monday to tie them on points at the summit, it is unlikely to dampen the expectant mood inside the Honved camp.
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