Domestic football is slowly emerging from its slumber after a fortnight off for the internationals, but there is La Liga and League One action to look forward to on Thursday.
However, it is in the Women’s Champions League where the real drama may occur, as Chelsea look to overhaul Manchester City in the last eight.
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Bet of the day – Chelsea Women -2 @ 7/2
Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women play out the final leg of their quadrilogy on Thursday when they meet at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
This is the fourth game they have met in a row – Chelsea won their League Cup final 2-1 and beat City by the same scoreline in Sunday’s WSL meeting at the Etihad. However, the Mancunians were the 2-0 winners in last week’s first leg at Joie Stadium and have something to protect in London.
With Khadija Shaw again a doubt, injuries remain an issue for interim City boss Nick Cushing, while last week’s loss is the only defeat Blues boss Sonia Bompastor has suffered since replacing Emma Hayes last summer.
Bompastor won this tournament as both a player and a coach with Lyon and she could inspire a turnaround that may seem through to the last four.
Special of the day – Barcelona vs Osasuna – Barcelona to win, over 3.5 goals, Ante Budimir to score and over 5.5 Barcelona corners @ 23/4
Barcelona’s home fixture against Osasuna on March 8 was postponed following the tragic passing of the Blaugrana’s club doctor just hours before the kick-off.
The rescheduled match takes place on Thursday, and a win in this game in hand will take Barca three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table.
However, while they should grab the victory, Osasuna are always awkward opponents, as they showed in winning September’s reverse game 4-2.
Los Rojillos are not the same side when not backed by the vociferous support of the El Sadar crowd but can help extend Barcelona’s run of over 3.5 goals landing in four of their last five games.
Punters may also want to follow Osasuna striker Ante Budimir. The Croatian scored twice in the reverse fixture and recently netted against Real Madrid.
To complete this Bet Builder, tag on over 5.5 Barcelona corners. No La Liga team has taken more than Hansi Flick’s side, who average 6.48 a game.
Long shot of the day – Stevenage to beat Leyton Orient @ 13/2
The international break may have come at the wrong time for Leyton Orient, who emerged from a run of five straight defeats to win 2-1 at Blackpool on March 15.
They currently sit ninth in League One, but their five-point deficit to the top six feels frustratingly far and it might be tough for Richie Wellens to rouse his troops.
The O’s have lost their last two at Brisbane Road and face a Stevenage side who have beaten strugglers Shrewsbury and Cambridge 1-0, lost only 2-1 to leaders Birmingham and drawn 1-1 at Reading in their last four away games.
This duo drew November’s reverse game at the Lamex Stadium 0-0, but Boro won 1-0 when the duo met in the EFL Trophy in January and could sneak another 1-0 result on Thursday.
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