Top 3 bets for Thursday's football & cricket

Why is there more Champions League action tonight?

Atalanta face Villarreal tonight after their clash was postponed because of snow yesterday with the winner going into the last 16 and the loser heading to the Europa League. The visitors know a draw will be good enough for them to go through as runners-up in Group F. They are currently in 2^nd place behind Manchester United on 7 points, with Atalanta a point behind. Villarreal lost 2-0 at home to United last time out, the first time in this season’s competition they’ve failed to score, while Atalanta, who have scored in every game, drew 3-3 with Young Boys.

Total Goal Minutes (144-154)

This clash between two free scoring teams was one of the most anticipated of the final round of Champions League fixtures, and punters have been keen to back any markets involving plenty of goals, even with the adverse weather which saw the fixture postponed by 24 hours. Atalanta especially have been involved in lots of high scoring games, with their last three Champions League games finishing 3-3, 2-2 and 3-2.

What do Leicester need to do to progress in the Europa League?

In the closest of groups, Leicester stand top and will progress if they win at Napoli tonight, but only two points cover the four teams in Group C. If both games finish as draws then Leicester will progress, but defeat will see them knocked out. Not only do the Foxes face the daunting task of travelling to the team who have led Serie A for most of the season, they do so without seven players and three backroom staff, all either testing positive for Covid or feeling too ill to travel.

Jamie Vardy Anytime Goalscorer (boosted to 29/20)

When theses two sides met on match day one, Napoli were in the middle of winning their first eight Serie A games of the season. While Leicester will not find life easy travelling to Naples, they at least will be taking on a team that is no longer in top form, having won only one of their last five Serie A games, as well as losing to Spartak Moscow in this competition. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and Leicester will hope their Mr Reliable Jamie Vardy can score the goals to take them through.

Can England get back into the 1^st Ashes Test?

Nothing went right for England as they set about the task of bowling for the first time this series on Day 2. Ben Stokes bowled David Warner but he’d overstepped for a no ball, the ball went past the outside edge time and again, run out chances came and went, catches went down and by the end both Stokes and Ollie Robinson, who bowled superbly, were limping and looking in need of a long rest. But tonight they must finish off the Aussies, who resume on 343-7, nearly 200 ahead. Once they get those last three wickets, England’s batters must show they’ve learnt from their first innings and apply themselves much better.

Travis Head runs (137-141)

Head enjoyed himself on Day 2, scoring the 3^rd fastest century in Ashes history as he whacked England’s bowlers to all corners of the Gabba. He resumes on 112no and we’ve seen plenty of patriotic punters selling his final score. The tourists looked tired towards the end of an extended Day 2 which had started early after rain on Day 1, but tonight they will be refreshed, the ball is relatively new and they will hope to get Head early. And of course even if they can’t get Head out, they only need to remove Mitchell Starc, currently 10no off 24 balls, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood to bowl the Aussies out, even if Head is unbeaten.