Europa League preview: Juventus v Man City

As Manchester City’s Europa League campaign winds down at Juventus on Thursday, the battle to keep Carlos Tevez is only just beginning.

Tevez is unlikely to feature in City’s clash at the Stadio Olimpico after the Argentinean captain confirmed rumours he has requested a transfer, saying his relationship with the club had ‘broken down beyond repair’.

City have been quick to assure fans they will not allow their talisman and leading goal-scorer to depart in January, though the erupting saga threatens to cast a shadow on the Eastlands just as Roberto Mancini’s side is reaching the peak of its considerable powers.

City equalled English Premier League leaders Arsenal on 32 points with a 3-1 victory at lowly West Ham United on Saturday, and are already assured of a berth in the Europa League knockout stages.

The next step is to inflict defeat on Italian giants Juventus, thereby sealing top spot in Group A and ensuring an easier run through the Round of 32 when European action resumes in February.

The task is not beyond Mancini’s men. In five group-stage matches they have lost just once, going down 3-1 at Polish club Lech Poznan.

But Juve have proven exceedingly difficult to beat this season.

Luigi Del Neri’s men have not lost since going down 3-1 to Palermo in late September – a run of 16 straight unbeaten results across all competitions.

At European level, Juve have recorded five straight draws in the group stages, though the Italians have conceded opening goals in three of these.

Discounting a 0-0 draw against Salzburg, the only time Juve have taken the early initiative was at City during their 1-1 stalemate on matchday two.

Vincenzo Iaquinta got himself on the scoresheet in the 11th minute, though his strike was cancelled out by Adam Johnson eight minutes from half-time.

While their Serie A campaign is travelling nicely – Juve are second on the table, six points behind AC Milan – Del Neri’s side are destined to exit the Europa League following the conclusion of Thursday’s fixture.

City, meanwhile, have far more to play for.

With a mere two-point advantage on top of the Group A table, Mancini’s men could fall to second behind Lech Poznan with a loss at the Olimpico.

Lech, meanwhile, will be gunning for three points when they pay a visit to bottom-placed Salzburg, who are yet to record a win and have posted just the one clean sheet in the group stages.

If City draw and Poznan win, the order of the top two will be decided on goal difference as the head-to-head record between to the two clubs is identical.

If the matter is decided on goal difference, the absence of Tevez’s goal-scoring prowess on Thursday could come back to haunt City.

Tevez has scored 10 times in 15 domestic appearances this season, one less than the league-leading Dmitar Berbatov.

Yaya Toure is City’s second-highest goal-scorer at league level with three strikes, while Emmanuel Adebayor has recorded four goals in the Europa League.

If Juventus can hold City to a dull draw, Poznan may be able to complete an unlikely swoop into first place ahead of the duo.