Sports

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — Aston Villa fans are dreaming of an unexpected Premier League title challenge after beating Arsenal 1-0, a result which allowed Liverpool to go top of the table.

Manchester City snapped their four-game winless streak with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Luton to close back to within four points of the top.

But the crisis across Manchester deepens as United slumped to a shocking 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points from the Premier League weekend.

Man Utd crisis is real United boss Erik ten Hag dismissed the notion that his side’s season has been crisis-ridden after a 2-1 win over Chelsea in midweek.

But the Dutchman was given a rude awakening as a shambolic campaign for the Red Devils hit a new low in Bournemouth’s first ever win at Old Trafford.

Captain Bruno Fernandes publicly apologised on Sunday for a performance lacking in effort and aggression.

“If you don’t do your job, you’re not going to win the game,” said the Portuguese midfielder.

However, United fans are becoming tired of such statements rather than seeing the players do their talking on the pitch.

A seventh defeat in 16 league games leaves United 10 points adrift of Liverpool, ahead of a daunting trip to Anfield next weekend.

By then Ten Hag’s men will also likely be out of the Champions League, as they must beat Bayern Munich and hope FC Copenhagen draw with Galatasaray to progress to the last 16.

Villa’s title dream

Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said he’s “a believer” that Unai Emery’s men can launch an unlikely challenge for their first top-flight title since 1981 after both City and Arsenal were added to the list of scalps at Villa Park in the space of four days.

Victory over the Gunners took Villa to within two points of the top and extended their winning run at home to a club record 15 consecutive league games.

Emery’s men also showed they are capable of winning in very different ways despite the same scoreline against their title rivals.

City were dominated in a manner rarely seen in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career, while Arsenal enjoyed the better of the game and chances but could not find their way past an inspired Martinez.

“When you beat City and Arsenal in a week, one game controlling them like I’ve never seen Man City being controlled, then suffering against Arsenal for 85 minutes and managing to win again, I’m a believer,” said the Argentine World Cup winner.

The key to what Villa can achieve likely lies in improving their patchy away form.

They have won just three of their eight Premier League games on the road this season.

But the inability of City, Arsenal or Liverpool to charge clear at the top is allowing a former European champion — a sleeping giant for decades — to dream.

Liverpool show resolve of champions

Jurgen Klopp said he had never seen a side play so badly for 76 minutes and still end up winning after Liverpool took advantage of a harsh red card for Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park.

The Reds have been far from their best over the past week but have still picked up nine points after also doing just enough to beat Fulham and Sheffield United.

It was a familiar story for Klopp’s men this season as they fought back after conceding first.

Liverpool have earned 18 points of their total of 37 after recovering from losing positions.

Klopp’s new-look side is not quite the finished article.

However, after the disappointment of slumping to fifth in the table last season, they are showing the resolve required of title winners to be back in the race once more.

COLUMBUS — Los Angeles FC’s attempt to defend their MLS Cup crown ended in a 2-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew on Sunday and now, after losses in two finals in a season, they face the possible exits of their biggest name players.

The futures of Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, Mexican forward Carlos Vela and, more surprisingly, top scorer Denis Bouanga, are unknown as the team head into the off-season.

Former Italy captain Chiellini says he will decide in the coming days whether to retire at the age of 39 drawing the curtain on an illustrious career.

“It could be my last game. Give me a couple of days in order to know,” Chiellini told reporters after the match.

“I was very focused on that game and now, I need to [take a] break for a little bit and just enjoy the family. I’ll go back to Italy and then I’ll have a final decision,” he said.

Chiellini said he did not want to rush into a decision and then change his mind and added he had three options.

“I could come back, and I have opportunities to stay six months, to stay one year or retire. I want to think about that. We’ll see about it,” he added.

Mexican forward Vela, 34, who has been the face of the franchise since they entered MLS in 2018, could also be heading out of the club given that his contract is now up.

Vela occupies a ‘designated player’ slot, meaning he can be paid a bigger salary which does not count against the salary cap, and LAFC might look to downscale his deal.

The former Real Sociedad striker was non-commital when asked about his future before the final.

“I don’t really know. I’m free, we will have talks and we’ll see if I can continue. We have to see if both sides want to continue, I would love to stay here. But if that doesn’t happen, I will look for other opportunities elsewhere and continue to enjoy the little football I have left.

“I would like to decide what’s best for me, perhaps play for one or two more years. The end of my career is closer and I have to enjoy it,” he said.

Bouanga departure? 

Perhaps more concerning to coach Steve Cherundolo, as he looks to improve on a campaign which also saw them lose in the final of the CONCACAF Champions League, were the post-game words of his French forward Denis Bouanga.

The 29-year-old, signed from Saint Etienne, was top scorer in the MLS regular season with 20 goals and it was his second-half strike that got LAFC back into Saturday’s game.

But his post-game comments suggested his future might be elsewhere.

“I am really happy to have played for a year and a half here, to get to know MLS, to get to know CONCACAF and I’m not saying anything ahead of time, but I’m really happy to have played here. I think LAFC is a great institution and after a year and a half, it’s been really good,” he said.

Asked if he might be considering a return to European football, Bounga said: “It’s a possibility, yes. I leave that to the other people, even if I have a few years left on my contract here. I just have to say that I’m really happy at LAFC, very happy here. But yeah, it’s a possibility I have to return to Europe,” he said.

“I let the club and my agents figure all of that stuff out. But as I said, I’m very honored to have worn this jersey and to have played for this institution here,” added Bouanga, who scored 38 goals in all competitions throughout 2023.

Given Bouanga remains under contract for another two seasons and his departure would require a major purchase to replace his goal-threat, LAFC would surely demand a significant transfer fee.

The Gabon international reportedly cost LAFC around $5 million when he joined the club in August last year.

LONDON — Mohamed Salah scored his 200th goal for Liverpool before Harvey Elliott’s last-gasp winner sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace that sent the Reds to the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were in danger of a damaging defeat in the title race after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty put Palace ahead in the second half at Selhurst Park.

But Palace’s Jordan Ayew was sent off with 15 minutes left and Liverpool took full advantage to erase a previously spluttering performance with a blistering finale.

Salah’s 14th goal this term made him the fifth player to score 200 for Liverpool in all competitions after Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285), Gordon Hodgson (241) and Billy Liddell (228).

In his 247th Premier League appearance, the Egypt star also reached 150 goals in the competition, including two scored for Chelsea, putting him in the all-time top-10 list level alongside Michael Owen.

Despite Salah’s landmark, a point would have been a disappointing result for Liverpool, but young midfielder Elliott came off the bench to seal the points in stoppage time.

Liverpool’s third successive league win moved them one point above second-placed Arsenal ahead of the Gunners’ trip to third-placed Aston Villa later on Saturday.

With home games against Manchester United and Arsenal looming before Christmas, the Reds have a golden opportunity to cement their title credentials heading into the new year.

Klopp had called a television presenter “ignorant” for joking that the 1230 GMT Saturday kick-off was the German’s “favourite” time to play.

The Reds boss has made a habit of complaining about the schedule whenever Liverpool have a match in the early Saturday slot after playing the previous Wednesday.

Liverpool leave it late 

Initially, it seemed Klopp’s dislike for the kick-off time would be renewed as Liverpool struggled to find any rhythm in wet and windy conditions in south London.

Liverpool were fortunate not to fall behind when Jefferson Lerma’s close-range effort forced a superb save from Alisson Becker, with the rebound hitting the post before it was hacked off the line by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Palace were awarded a penalty when Odsonne Edouard was bundled over Virgil van Dijk, but Will Hughes had clearly fouled Wataru Endo before passing to the forward.

Referee Andy Madley was told to consult the pitchside monitor and overturned his penalty decision.

For the first time in the league this season, Klopp’s side failed to muster a single shot on target in a dismal first-half display that ended fittingly with Alexander-Arnold misplacing a simple pass.

Palace deservedly took the lead in the 57th minute as Jarell Quansah’s challenge on Mateta was deemed worthy of a penalty after Madley checked the monitor.

To Klopp’s bewilderment, VAR only intervened to prompt the decision several moments after the foul.

Liverpool were furious but Mateta was unfazed, barely taking a run-up as he dispatched the spot-kick past Alisson with ease.

But luck was on Liverpool’s side as Palace forward Ayew was dismissed for a soft second booking in the 75th minute and within 60 seconds the visitors were level.

If the sending off had an element of good fortune for Liverpool, there was more to come as Cody Gakpo’s cross was only cleared to Salah, whose shot from 10 yards took a wicked deflection as it flashed past wrong-footed keeper Sam Johnstone.

Liverpool finally had some momentum and their late siege produced a winner in the first minute of stoppage time.

Elliott took possession 30 yards from goal and swerved away from his marker before unleashing a superb strike that beat Palace substitute keeper Remi Matthews at his near post.

In the final seconds, Alisson had to save from Joachim Andersen to preserve Liverpool’s hard-fought success.

LAS VEGAS — The NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament nears its climax in Las Vegas on Thursday with the world of basketball in near-unanimous agreement that the event has been a dazzling success.

Four years after it first emerged that the NBA was mulling the creation of a 30-team tournament played in tandem with the regular season, four teams will contest Thursday’s semifinals, hoping to nail down a place in Saturday’s final.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers face the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference semifinal, while the Milwaukee Bucks face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference side of the draw.

The Vegas finale marks the culmination of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s desire to see basketball mirror European club football’s structure, where teams play in domestic and continental knockout cup competitions as well as league campaigns.

Silver said earlier this year the tournament was designed to “create new games of consequence during the regular season”, and in that regard the tournament has been an unqualified hit.

Viewership figures have surged for locally broadcast and nationally televised games, while attendances in November jumped to an average of 18,206 — the highest average on record for November according to the NBA.

“It gives that excitement and that different level of competition and care that you don’t usually get in December in an NBA season,” Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard said on Wednesday.

“I think it’s doing what it’s supposed to do. A lot of teams who probably didn’t appreciate it in the first one or two In-Season Tournament games are probably wishing like, man, we should have took this a little more serious.”

No more yawning? 

Lakers coach Darvin Ham agreed, saying the tournament had given a sense of jeopardy to a period of the NBA’s marathon 82-game regular season that is traditionally a snooze-fest.

“I think it’s been great,” Ham said. “Sometimes you tend to yawn — we don’t like to admit it, but you tend to yawn through certain NBA games, regular-season games at this point of the year.

“To have this infused into the season and you get a chance to see this high level of basketball played in December, I think it’s great for the fans, great for everyone involved, great for the league, and just another feather in the cap.”

The sense of competition has crucially won buy-in from the NBA’s players. Each player on the team that lifts the title on Saturday will receive a win bonus of $500,000, although Ham believes the purse could be bigger.

“If you want the players to play at an extremely high level, increase the purse,” Ham replied when asked how he felt the tournament could be improved.

In broad terms however the tournament has proven popular with players.

Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Wednesday, is relishing this week’s detour in Vegas.

“I had my birthday in Vegas,” Antetokounmpo said. “That’s what I’m going to tell my kids one day. My 29th birthday was in Las Vegas. What were you doing out there, dad? Were you gambling and being in the gentlemen’s club? No, I was playing a basketball game.”

The Greek star questioned whether any changes needed to be made to the format moving forward.

“I don’t think there’s anything to tweak,” he said. “I think it’s great so far.”

That viewpoint was echoed by Lakers star James, who praised NBA chief Silver’s vision in launching the tournament.

“Listen, Adam Silver is a genius, so it’s that simple,” James said on Wednesday. “So it’s going to work.”

LONDON — Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope will be sidelined for “around four months” with a shoulder injury, manager Eddie Howe said on Wednesday as his list of absentees continued to grow.

England’s Pope, who needed surgery on his same left shoulder in 2018 while a Burnley player, suffered a dislocation when diving during last weekend’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United.

He joins Newcastle’s lengthy injury list which has left Howe making very few substitutions in recent matches, with several youth-team players on the bench.

“There’s no doubt he needs an operation so he will be out for a period of time, we think around four months,” Howe told a press conference ahead of Thursday’s league game at Everton.

“It’s the same shoulder [as 2018 injury] but a different part of the shoulder. There was no reason for that happening.”

Media reports have linked Newcastle with both out-of-favour Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale and former Man United number one David de Gea, who is a free agent.

But Howe was keen to play down speculation of signing a short-term replacement in January.

“I’ve seen a lot of the media headlines and press speculation regarding goalkeepers and other players,” said Howe.

“We’ve not made any enquiries or decisions regarding our recruitment leading into January and I have said many times that is because if we were to recruit now we would probably be recruiting in every position on the pitch because we have injuries everywhere throughout the squad.

“Hopefully that picture looks different by the time January comes.”

Slovakian Martin Dubravka replaced Pope as a late substitute against Manchester United and will likely start at Goodison Park.

He was sent on loan to Old Trafford last season but played two Premier League matches for Newcastle after being recalled from Man United in January.

“We really believe in Martin. I have always had that high opinion of him,” added Howe.

“Martin is a high-class goalkeeper, he is a brilliant shot-stopper himself.

“He is very good with his feet and his distribution, so there’s no hesitation in bringing Martin into the team and I hope he does really well.”

Newcastle have won their last two league matches, either side of a 1-1 Champions League draw at Paris Saint-Germain, despite their injury woes.

But Howe wants his side to improve away from home, after just one win on their travels in six Premier League games this season.

“I’m looking forward to the game. We’re going to Tottenham next, we’ll need to work on our away form.”

Newcastle sit sixth in the table, just three points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa.

LOS ANGELES — The Indiana Pacers, fuelled by Tyrese Haliburton’s first career triple-double, beat the Boston Celtics 122-112 on Tuesday to reach the semifinals of the NBA’s new in-season tournament.

The New Orleans Pelicans also booked their spot in Thursday’s semifinals in Las Vegas, shaking off a slow start to beat the Kings 127-117 in Sacramento.

In Indianapolis, Haliburton scored 26 points with 10 rebounds and 13 assists and the Pacers put together a 9-0 scoring run with less than two minutes remaining to take control of a tightly contested battle.

The Pacers, ranked sixth in the Eastern Conference regular-season standings, knocked out the East-leading Celtics and will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or New York Knicks in the semifinals.

The Bucks host the New York Knicks in the quarters on Tuesday and Haliburton said the Pacers will be ready for either one.

“We’re a young, hungry group and we want to win every night,” Haliburton said. “So we’re excited to be there, but we’re not complacent being there. We want to win.”

Buddy Hield added 21 points for the Pacers, who had seven players score in double figures to the delight of the 16,000-plus crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“The atmosphere is crazy,” Haliburton said of the play-off-type intensity in the arena, which was just what the NBA was looking for when it launched the in-season tournament hoping it would lend excitement to the early stages of a long season.

“I love this,” Haliburton said.

Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Jaylen Brown added 30 points and nine rebounds for Boston, who dominated inside in the first half but just couldn’t keep the prolific Pacers offence in check in the second.

Boston out-scored Indiana 32-14 in the paint and out-rebounded them 34-19 in the first half, leading 55-48 at the break.

The Pacers turned the tables in the second half. Haliburton, held to seven points in the first half, scored eight in the first four minutes of the third quarter.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said 18 turnovers — six of them in the third quarter when the Pacers briefly pushed their lead to 11 — doomed the Celtics.

“When you turn the ball over you just let them get out in transition,” he said.

Even so, a game that featured 16 lead changes was all tied up at 105-105 with 1:33 to play when Indiana delivered the final blow.

Ingram powers Pelicans 

Haliburton drew a foul on a step-back three-pointer and converted the free throw to give the Pacers the lead for good.

Hield drilled a three-pointer and Aaron Nesmith threw down a dunk before the Celtics could respond and the Pacers held on.

In Sacramento, the Kings led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter, but the Pelicans clawed back to lead 69-61 at halftime and never trailed in the second half as they handed the Kings their first defeat of the tournament.

Pels star Zion Williamson had a relatively quiet night with 10 points, but Brandon Ingram scored 30 and Herbert Jones added 23 as six New Orleans players scored in double figures.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 30 points. Domantas Sabonis notched a triple-double of 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for Sacramento, who had won all four of their group-stage games.

The Pelicans will play the winner of Tuesday’s quarter-final between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns.

The title game is on Saturday in Vegas — where the finalists will be competing for the first NBA Cup and the $500,000 in prize money per player for the winning team.

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — Manchester City were stunned by a depleted Tottenham as Dejan Kulusevski’s 90th minute equaliser earned Spurs a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Etihad.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou insisted he would not relent from his philosophy of relentless attacking football despite facing the might of City with a mounting injury crisis, and earned his reward.

Spurs captain Son Heung-min scored at both ends inside the opening 10 minutes.

Phil Foden put City in front before half-time, but Giovani Lo Celso levelled 20 minutes from time.

Jack Grealish restored the home side’s lead once more, only for Kulusevski’s header to ensure City have now dropped points in five of their last eight league games.

The English and European champions drop to third in the table, three points behind leaders Arsenal.

A point lifts Tottenham into fifth and snaps a run of three consecutive defeats.

“We were lucky to be in it by half-time. City could have blown us away in that period,” said Postecoglou.

“Second half we had more belief in ourselves and the team we want to be and we clawed our way back into the game.”

The visitors’ daring approach was met with an early reward.

Son raced onto Kulusevski’s ball over the top and Ederson failed to prevent the South Korean scoring his eighth goal against City.

The lead only lasted three minutes as Son cancelled out his opener at the wrong end.

Julian Alvarez’s free-kick was flicked on by Erling Haaland and deflected off the unfortunate Son into his own net.

Wasteful City punished 

Spurs started for the second consecutive game without a recognised centre-back and they never looked capable of restricting City going forward.

Pep Guardiola’s men should have had the game out of sight before half-time.

Haaland missed two glaring opportunities by his standards, while Jeremy Doku and Alvarez hit the woodwork.

Yet, City did produce a move of clinical precision to go in front on 31 minutes.

Doku fed Alvarez inside the box and the Argentine squared for Foden to slot home.

Guglielmo Vicario was forced to make a stunning save from Bernardo Silva seconds into the second period to keep Tottenham in the game.

But City were then guilty of resting on their laurels and allowing Spurs’ makeshift defence some respite.

Lo Celso, handed a rare run in the starting line-up by an injury to James Maddison, fired in off the post for his second goal in as many games.

Tottenham’s determination to play out from the back looked to have cost them 10 minutes from time.

Rodri robbed Yves Bissouma and played in Haaland, who crossed for Grealish to tap home.

But the drama was far from over.

Kulusevski timed his run perfectly to head in Brennan Johnson’s cross.

And City were incensed in stoppage time when referee Simon Hooper inexplicably stopped the game to award the home side a free-kick when Grealish was clean through on goal.

“It is hard when you review the image, the referee decides to blow the whistle after he has already said to play on,” said Guardiola.

“After the pass, the whistle, so I do not understand this action.”

City’s punishment did not end there as yellow cards for Rodri and Grealish mean they will be suspended on Wednesday for a trip to an Aston Villa side that have won 13 consecutive home Premier League games.

AMMAN  — Faisali play their final match of Group B Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League matches when they host UAE’s Sharjah at  Amman International Stadium on Monday.

The Jordanian team has been eliminated from the competition, but are seeking to score a morale boosting win that will alter the team lackluster appearance in the leading Asian clubs competition.

Faisali lost the chance to advance further in their first participation in the event’s round robin group stages after they lost to  Sharjah and to Nasaf Qarshi 1-0 before a crushing 6-0 defeat to Qatar’s Sadd ended up in, yet, another change in coaching staff. As second leg matches resumed, coach Ahmad Hayel took on the task as they hosted Sadd beating them 2-0 before losing to Nasaf Qarshi 3-1.

Faisali are now fourth in the group and aim for a win to move to third and be eligible for the $50,000 prize money. Only the top team from each group will advance to Round 2 alongside the top 3 second placed teams.

Hayel’s side will next have to stabilise the team’s performance and lineup to be able to fight for advanced standings in local competitions.

On the other hand, Wihdat are gearing up to their last match of the second tier Asian competition — the AFC Cup — when they play Kuwait SC on December 11.

The Jordanian team also had to amend breaches in lineup and strategy after inconsistent results which saw them lose to Kuwait SC 2-1, beating Aleppo’s Ittihad 2-0 and Iraq’s Kahraba’a 3-1 in the first leg in Group B. In the return leg, they lost to Iraq’s Kahraba’a3-1 and beat Aleppo’s Ittihad 2-0 in their last match to take second spot in the group ahead of their last match.

They will need to win their match to secure qualification as only the group leaders and the best runner-up among 3 West Asia groups will advance as well.

SAINT-DENIS, France — Olympic chief Thomas Bach said he was “very satisfied” with the state of preparations for the Olympic Village of the Paris 2024 Summer Games after a visit to the new build north of the French capital on Saturday.

“As an Olympian it’s always a great moment to be in an Olympic Village,” said Bach, who won Olympic fencing team gold for West Germany in the 1976 Games and now heads the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“Every Olympian will tell you that once the Games are over and he’s meeting other Olympic athletes, after one minute at the latest, they will both speak about the Olympic Village and the experience they made there.

“This is where the heart of the Olympic Games will beat.”

Bach called the Village, which will house 14,500 athletes and their staff, “really spectacular: it’s compact, it’s very pragmatic”.

“You see not only me but the entire IOC executive board very, very happy and very satisfied with the Village and with the state of preparations,” he said.

The Village covers the equivalent of 70 football pitches and will go on to host 9,000 athletes for the Paralympic Games that follow the July 26-August 11 Olympics before becoming “a part of the surrounding city, for people in Seine-Saint-Denis”.

The chief organiser of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tony Estanguet, said he expected no surprises before completion of the Village in the city’s northern surburbs at the end of December with the handover of keys scheduled for early March.

“Les timings are perfectly respected,” insisted Estanguet, a three-time Olympic gold medallist for France in canoeing.

Metro ticket hike ‘fair’

Bach batted off criticism by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo who said that, while the Games infrastructure will be ready, “there are two things for which we will not be ready”, namely transport and also the problem of homelessness.

“Our partner is the organising committee and there’s been no split with them,” he said.

In a separate address to media, the head of the Paris region’s transport authority, Valerie Pecresse, said almost doubling the price of metro tickets during the Paris Olympics was “fair”.

Single tickets will be sold for four euros ($4.37), compared to 2.10 euros now, and 10-ticket blocks for 32 euros, compared to 16.90 currently.

The cost, Pecresse added, is “not borne” by people living in the Paris region, with the transport chief estimating that additional expense to the authority at 200 million euros.

“What is shocking? It’s the real price. Who wants to pay? The Paris mayor wants to? The Seine-Saint-Denis department? The local organising committee? It’s not residents of the Paris region who will pay,” said Pecresse.

Looking ahead to France’s potential performance on home soil, Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera underlined her “obviously demanding” goal of the country finishing in the top five in the overall medal table.

“It would be premature to predict a [more precise] rank in the medal table because many uncertainties remain,” she added.

France finished eighth at the Tokyo Olympics, delayed a year from 2020 to 2021 because of the Covid pandemic, with 10 golds, 12 silvers and 16 bronzes.

It would take a significant leap to get close to the 71-medal haul (20 golds, 28 silvers, 23 bronzes) athletes representing the Russian Olympic Committee achieved to finish fifth in the Japanese capital.

France’s largest ever haul of golds was 15 in the 1996 Atlanta Games, as statistics presented on Friday indicated that a host country normally multiplied its Olympic titles by “between 1.5 and 2.3 per cent”.

That offers a glimmer of hope, albeit thanks to a calculator, of France attaining the ambitious medal goal on home soil where an estimated two-thirds of spectators will be French, according to National Olympic Committee head David Lappartient.