Juve’s Costa apologises for ‘ugly’ spitting incident

Milan, Italy - Juventus forward Douglas Costa has apologised after being sent off for spitting in the face of Sassuolo's Federico Di Francesco in a 2-1 Italian League win in Turin on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goals for Juventus but the champion’s fourth win in as many games this season was overshadowed by Brazilian Costa's late red card for spitting at Di Francesco - the 24 year old son of Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco.

"I would like to apologise to all the Juventus fans for my wrong reaction during today's game," wrote Costa on Instagram.

"I also apologise to my teammates, who are always by my side, in good and bad times. It was ugly, I am aware of that and I apologise to everyone for that.

"I want to make clear that this isolated conduct has nothing to do with what I've shown throughout my career."

Costa now faces an extended ban with coach Massimiliano Allegri annoyed with the forward for "rising to provocation".

Allegri congratulated Ronaldo for breaking his duck before its trip to Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday. "You just had to see the first three games and how close Ronaldo went to scoring," he said. Other results: Sunday: Empoli 0 Lazio 1, Cagliari 1 AC Milan 1. French League: Sunday: Marseille 4 Guingamp 0. Spanish League: Sunday: Real Valladolid 0 Alaves 1, Sevilla 0 Getafe 2.

German League:

Freiburg 3 Stuttgart 3. Sunday: