After a promising start to the campaign, Manchester City have allowed Women’s Super League champions Chelsea to stretch away and they face a potentially tricky trip to Aston Villa, who have lost one of their last five league games and have a new manager to impress in Natalia Arroyo.
Both teams to score - 5/6
It seemed Manchester City would be right in the title mix in the Women’s Super League this season after a strong start to the campaign, but three defeats in their last four matches have seen Gareth Taylor’s side slip to fourth in the table.
They are nine points behind champions Chelsea and while a 2-0 defeat to Sonia Bompastor’s team in November was perhaps no disgrace, a 2-1 loss to goal-shy Everton and a further 4-2 reverse in the derby against United last week have left Gareth Taylor’s side fourth and scrapping to get back in the groove.
They were not helped by the absence of top goalscorer Khadija Shaw and their top creative influence Lauren Hemp against the Red Devils, and it would not be a surprise if both teams scored as Villa have found some decent form recently.
Manager Robert de Pauw’s short tenure came to an end on December 11 and they recovered well under caretaker and Taylor’s former City teammate Shaun Goater by claiming their first wins of the season against West Ham and Crystal Palace.
Those successes were not enough to help The Goat land the job, but Villa have their first game under the stewardship of former Real Sociedad boss Natalia Arroyo and they should be looking to impress, having claimed heavy recent cup victories over Charlton and Bristol Rovers.
City have kept two clean sheets in their last ten away games against Palace, who are bottom of the table, and Bristol City, who were relegated last season, so the confident Midlanders can find the net.
Gabi Nunes to score at any time - 4/1
Lioness Rachel Daly leads Villa’s goalscoring list with five WSL strikes this season, but it could pay to keep an eye on Gabi Nunes, who is set to play in a more central role.
The Brazilian was on hand to score the opener when Villa went down to a 2-1 defeat at City in October and she has had a shot on target in each of his last five starts in the WSL.
Nunes has two league goals this season but boosted her confidence with a hat-trick in the 9-0 FA Cup win over Bristol Rovers two weeks ago, so it is worth taking a chance she can net against the Citizens again.
Noelle Maritz to be booked - 9/2
Those looking for a booking bet are pointed towards Villa right-back Noelle Maritz.
The Swiss defender has been cautioned three times in the league this season and all of those yellow cards have come in her last three starts.
She was booked in her last two games against West Ham and Everton and any extra enthusiasm that is generated by the desire to impress her new boss could result in her name being taken once again.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.