24 November 2015
Juventus and Manchester City might not have that much in common, both lifting their respective domestic titles in recent years and now representing one half of this year’s Champions League Group D being two of few factors uniting the Citizens and the Old Lady.
Both clubs however can look back at the unforgettable spells of a certain Carlos Tevez in Manchester and Turin, where the Argentinian striker racked up a staggering 123 goals in six seasons first in the sky blue of City (73) and then the black and white of Juve (50).
What better opportunity then than the meeting of Carlitos’ two most recent employers in tomorrow night’s crunch European clash at Juventus Stadium to look back at his three top moments as a Bianconeri player.
The Apache strikes at the San Siro
20/09/2014: Milan 0-1 Juve
Carlos Tevez scored 22 winning goals for Juve in his time in Turin and few were as dramatic, significant or indeed as typical as his late strike against Milan in September 2014.
With the scores deadlocked at the San Siro in spite of spells of relentless pressure on the Rossoneri backline and the encounter crying out for a touch of individual brilliance, Tevez stepped up to the plate as he would do so consistently for the remainder of the 2014/2015 campaign.
In his trademark scurrying, all-action style, the Argentine scrambled a pass into the feet of Paul Pogba on the edge of the penalty area before darting into the space behind the Milan defence for the perfectly weighted return pass.
With the hard work done, Tevez kept his cool when it really mattered, feinting to shoot to put Rossoneri goalkeeper Christian Abbiati on his back before slotting into the corner, cueing scenes of delirium among the Bianconeri fans gathered behind the goal.
And of course, it wouldn’t have been a memorable Tevez moment without an appearance from his trademark dummy, kept in his shorts for another inevitable celebration opportunity
Pace, Power, Poise: Parma perfection
09/11/2014- Juventus 7-0 Parma
As Stephan Lichtsteiner gathered the ball under his control before arrowing into the top corner from 25 yards to give the Bianconeri a two-goal lead over strugglers Parma last November, the Swiss defender probably rightly imagined that his strike would be the best of the afternoon.
As sweet as Stephan’s strike was however, Tevez would more than match the full-back’s effort shortly after the interval to score one of the best goals ever seen at the home of the reigning Italian champions.
Retrieving possession just inside the Bianconeri half, Juve’s two-time leading scorer set off on an unstoppable 50-yard run, showing superb close control, balance and poise to leave three Gialloblu defenders in his wake.
Approaching the penalty box at pace, the Boca Juniors frontman nonchalantly rolled the ball past the helpless Antonio Mirante for the first of his strikes on the night, the second decidedly less spectacular than the first!
Just under a year later, Carlitos’ unforgettable slalom and finish was selected in the FIFA Puskas Award shortlist for one of the top ten goals of the 2014/15 season. Deservedly so.
At the double in Dortmund
Where Tevez’s effort against Parma was a demonstration of his speed with the ball at his feet, March’s scorcher in Dortmund was all about the Argentine’s blistering shooting power.
Having found the net three times against Malmo in the group stages and once more in the last 16 first leg at Juventus Stadium a couple of weeks previously, Carlitos wasted no time at all in adding to his growing European tally at the Westfalenstadion, opening the scoring in Germany after just three minutes.
With some fans still filtering in and heading for their seats, the Argentine received Arturo Vidal’s stabbed lay-off, steadied himself and hammered into the back of the net from distance to bag an invaluable away goal for the Bianconeri and a 3-1 aggregate lead overall.
Tevez was not done there however and would go on to have a hand in Juve’s other two strikes on the night after the break, first racing clear to selflessly tee up Alvaro Morata for a close range tap-in and then helping himself to a second, rifling past Romain Weidenfeller 11 minutes from time to cap off a magical night in Western Germany.
The Argentine’s Borussia brace wouldn’t be his last contribution to the Bianconeri’s memorable run to June’s Berlin final, successfully converting from the penalty spot to give his team a 2-1 lead in the semi-final first leg against Real Madrid at Juventus Stadium.
Having swapped Turin for Buenos Aires to return home to his beloved Boca, the 31-year old’s tireless running, breathtaking tenacity and unflinching instinct in front of goal has ensured he remains an icon nonetheless for those of a black and white and sky blue persuasion.
