Why Carlos Tevez Was Juventus' Standout Performer in March

March was a superb month for Juventus, the Bianconeri recording some impressive results as the 2014-15 season nears its conclusion for the reigning Italian champions. Holding nearest rivals AS Roma to a draw at the start of the month, Massimiliano Allegri’s men followed that up with league wins over Sassuolo, Palermo and Genoa to open a 14 point lead over the rest of Serie A.

That margin virtually guarantees the club will now lift a fourth consecutive domestic crown, and impressive performances in Europe have followed, with a quarter-final clash with AS Monaco awaiting them in April.

To reach that stage, Juventus handily dispatched Borussia Dortmund, recording a 2-1 victory in Turin before travelling to Germany where they would register a comprehensive 3-0 win over Jurgen Klopp’s side. The 2012 finalists may not be at their best, but the ruthless efficiency shown by La Madama bodes well for the future, particularly as the likes of Arturo Vidal and Alvaro Morata hit their best form.

Alessandro Fucarini/Associated Press

Netting in both legs against Borussia Dortmund, the Spanish striker has taken his tally for the season to 11 goals in all competitions, quickly supplanting Fernando Llorente as the first-choice striker in Allegri’s 4-3-2-1 formation. Meanwhile, the previously struggling Vidal has slowly begun to perform at the world-class levels shown in his previous three seasons at the club, as discussed in this earlier column.

Also crucial to that impressive string of results has been Andrea Barzagli’s comeback from the injuries which have kept him out of the side since last summer’s World Cup. With four clean sheets in his four appearances, the importance of the 33-year-old defender simply cannot be understated, once again adding an assured air to the Bianconeri back line.

Yet even the contributions of that trio pale in significance compared to that made by Carlos Tevez, the play of the Argentinian striker essential to every positive performance by Juventus. It started with that 1-1 draw away to AS Roma, the 31-year-old opening the scoring with a beautiful free-kick to hand the visitors a 64th-minute lead.

He would then lead from the front in the following two matches, his tireless running and infectious work ethic rubbing off on his team-mates, as the Bianconeri recorded narrow 1-0 wins over both Palermo and Sassuolo. While the goals came from Morata and Paul Pogba, Tevez’s presence was essential in each game and the side looks infinitely more threatening when the former Manchester City captain is on the field.

That was never more accurate than in the win over Borussia Dortmund, a game in which Tevez was undoubtedly the key figure, scoring twice and creating the other in Juve’s three-goal victory. Playing the perfect counter-attacking game, Tevez scored with both his shots in the match, while his running was a constant thorn in the side of the German outfit.

His excellent form continued in the team’s final March fixture, scoring yet another sublime goal to lift the Bianconeri over a resolute Genoa squad at Juventus Stadium. That strike took his tally for the campaign to 24 in all competitions, while he has also weighed in with a team-high eight assists, displaying an unselfish streak that typifies everything about his play since arriving in Turin in the summer of 2013.

He may have missed a penalty in the game with Genoa that would have made the win more comfortable, but he had once again proven to be the difference-maker for Allegri’s side, but after the game the conversation immediately turned to the fact his contract expires next summer.

“I am happy here and everyone knows that,” Tevez told Sky Italia shortly after the final whistle (h/t Football Italia). “I don’t want to talk about my future, as I am giving my all for Juventus.” That discussion is likely to continue until he either signs a new deal or leaves the club, and was the topic of this previous column.

Nevertheless, with those superb displays to his name, Carlos Tevez was undoubtedly the standout performer for Juventus in March, and deserves huge credit for the impact he continues to have.