Juventus’ 2-1 win over Sassuolo in Turin this afternoon might easily have been remembered as the game that the club’s £90m record signing Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal for the club but an extraordinary second half ensured it’ll be remembered as more remarkable than that.
First, with the score at 1-0, the Portuguese superstar scored his second goal in their black and white colours, finishing calmly on his weaker left foot after a counterattack and made it 2-0.
Then, after a Khouma Babacar goal had brought the visitors back into the game in its dying moments, a nasty incident took place.
Douglas Costa, the Juventus winger, was involved in a physical altercation with Federico Di Francesco of Sassuolo, which involved a bit of tussling and head-butting, when he spat into his opponents mouth.
The former Bayern Munich man was first yellow-carded for the offence but was then shown red after the referee had a word in his ear from the VAR officials.
Footballing authorities take a dim view on such behaviour and he could possibly face a lengthy retrospective ban in the light of this. He’s likely to be much-derided in the press over the coming days and a public statement of contrition for the indiscretion will surely be in the process of being drafted up by the Old Lady’s PR department right now.
While it’s a pity this has somewhat soured what was an entertaining encounter from the peninsula, his could be a big developing story and is one to keep an eye on for sure.
Take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of this afternoon’s second half below.
