Carlos Tevez shoots at goal despite the covering of Fiorentina’s Gonzalo Rodriguez.

Carlos Tevez’s return will bolster Juventus as the Italians look to bounce back from their defeat at Napoli in today’s Europa League quarter-final first leg at Lyon.

The Argentinian striker, who is Juve’s top scorer this season with 18 goals, missed Sunday’s 2-0 defeat in Naples through suspension.

The loss, Juve’s second in Serie A, left the Turin giants eight points clear of Roma at the top of the standings with seven games left.

“It’s a difficult time because we are playing so many games and it’s not always possible to play every game at a high level,” Tevez told reporters yesterday.

“We have won a lot of games this season and this is what matters.

“The fact that I didn’t play at the weekend has given me the opportunity to prepare in the best possible way for the game at Lyon.”

Tevez’s last European goal dates back to April 2009 but the South American, who will lead Juve’s attack in Lyon, is calm despite his goal drought on the continent.

“I am serene because sooner or later the goal will arrive,” he said.

“For me, this is not an obsession to score in Europe.”

Juventus travel to the Stade de Gerland tonight having won their two Europa League games on the road, including a 1-0 triumph at Serie A rivals Fiorentina in the previous round.

Meanwhile, Lyon are unbeaten at home since the group stages of the European competition but just like their rivals, they are also feeling the fatigue of their busy fixture schedule.

Sunday’s 2-1 home loss to St Etienne was Lyon’s second defeat in their last three league games and dropped Remi Garde’s side to fifth place in Ligue 1.

“We have played a lot of football this season and we are starting to feel it,” Garde said.

“It’s never easy to lose the derby, but it doesn’t change anything. We don’t have time and we don’t want to dwell on this. We have to bounce back against Juventus.”

The hosts are without six injured players, including Miguel Lopes, Mou Dabo and Clement Grenier. The only consolation for Garde is that striker Yassine Benzia returns from suspension.

Juve coach Antonio Conte will be without midfielder Arturo Vidal, who serves a ban.

The return leg will be played in Turin, on April 10.

Quarter-finals, first legs

Second legs: April 10.