13 June 2018
EARLY DERBY WIN
Juve began the new year with their first participation of the season in the TIM Cup, as they faced crosstown rivals, Torino in the quarter-finals:
Douglas Costa fired Juve ahead before half-time, with Mario Mandzukic striking in the second to hand the Bianconeri a 2-0 win and seal their passage to the semi-finals:
Victory of course meant:
Back-to-back 1-0's
Next up was a trip to Sardenia, as Juve faced their opening day opponents, Cagliari. It was just the one goal in it, with Federico Bernardeschi turning home from Douglas Costa's low cross to earn a 0-1 win:
Following the international break, the Old Lady hosted Genoa at the Allianz Stadium a month after their TIM Cup win.
Prior to the game, Wojciech Szczesny was handed his award for the December MVP of the Month:
Once again a tight match, but having already registered a goal and an assist this month, Douglas Costa turned in yet another infulential performance, scoring inside the first 20 minutes:
A great start to the year for Douglas Costa!
CLOSING IT OUT AT CHIEVO
Juve next travelled away to Chievo Verona, after a goalless first half the hosts went down to nine men after Bastien picked up two yellow cards, whilst Cacciatore was shown a straight red.
The Bianconeri pilied on the pressure and eventually found the breakthrough when Khedira met Bernardeschi's pullback:
Douglas Costa was once more involved as his cross into the box was nodded home by Gonzalo Higuain!
THE BERGAMO FOG
The last fixture of the month was a trip to a foggy Bergame to take on Atalanta in the first leg of their TIM Cup semi-final.
It was just three mintues on the clock, when Higuain capitalised on Pjanic's pass to strike home!
The hosts were handed a way back into the game when they were given a penalty.
However, there was to be no way through:
The Bianconeri held on to claim a valuable 0-1 away win to give themselves one foot in the Coppa Italia final, with Gianluigi Buffon in inspired form:
Douglas Costa had such an exceptional January that he won a double award of January MVP of the Month and Goal of the Month!
