Juventus 2 : 0 Malmo FF - Tevez gives Juventus winning start

Posted Wednesday, September 17, 2014 by PA

Juventus forward Carlos Tevez ended his Champions League goal drought with both goals in the 2-0 defeat of Malmo.

The Italian champions had struggled to make an impact until Tevez ended a 14-match wait for a Champions League goal with his eye-catching strike just before the hour mark in this Group A opener.

Tevez then made sure of the victory in the 89th minute, curling home a fantastic free-kick from just outside the penalty area.

Malmo had frustrated Massimiliano Allegri's men in the first 45 minutes - but the result did not look in doubt once Tevez had opened the scoring.

The Swedish side created the first chance of the game in the 18th minute when Markus Rosenberg's cross was headed goalwards by Magnus Eriksson - but Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon did well to block the effort.

After Kwadwo Asamoah had headed over, Tevez tried his luck for the home side with a curling effort which Malmo keeper Robin Olsen easily claimed.

Just before the half-hour mark Asamoah fired over from distance, then Fernando Llorente saw a 34th-minute effort deflected wide by Pa Konate - but the Italian champions were struggling to create clear chances.

The home fans were hoping for an improvement from their side after the break and they showed more urgency in the early stages of the second half.

Llorente failed to find the power required to beat Olsen with a header, then Erik Johansson cleared after Stephan Lichtsteiner had threatened to unlock the visiting defence with an incisive ball.

However, Juventus got the breakthrough they were seeking in the 59th minute - and it was a well worked goal.

Tevez advanced and played a tidy one-two with Asamoah before advancing and beating Olsen with a low shot into the far corner of the net. It was his first goal in the competition since 2009, when he was playing for Manchester United.

Patrice Evra came close to doubling the lead four minutes later, looping a shot over from a corner, before Lichtsteiner headed over.

Malmo threatened briefly 18 minutes from time with an Eriksson header which Buffon comfortably claimed.

However, the home side finished strongly and after an Evra centre had just eluded Llorente and Paul Pogba, Llorente also went close to a second goal.

It finally arrived in the closing stages when Johansson was penalised for fouling Tevez - and the Argentinian picked himself up to convert the free-kick in style and end any lingering fears among the home support at the Juventus Stadium.