This Brazil forward is set for a spell on the sidelines after limping off against Fiorentina at the weekend
Miralem Pjanic has been passed fit for Juventus‘ Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, but Douglas Costa is set to be sidelined multiple weeks with a hamstring injury.
Both players hobbled out of the 0-0 Serie A draw with Fiorentina on Saturday, Costa managing only eight minutes and Pjanic forced to depart shortly before half-time.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder had tests at the club’s medical centre on Monday and no muscle damage was detected, meaning he should be clear to play in his side’s Champions League group-stage opener away to Atletico on Wednesday.
However, Costa has been diagnosed with a hamstring injury and it will be 15 days before a definitive time frame on his recovery can be put in place.
It means the Brazil winger will sit out the Atletico clash and potentially Juve’s second Group D match at home to Bayer Leverkusen on October 1.
He will also miss league matches against Hellas Verona, Brescia and SPAL over the coming 10 days.
The duo have started all three of Juventus’ matches this season meaning boss Maurizio Sarri will have to make at least one change to his side for the trip to Wanda Metropolitano.
Juventus, Italian champions in each of the last eight seasons, are currently third in the embryonic Serie A table after taking seven points from their opening three matches.
They travel to Madrid on Wednesday hoping this will be the season they finally end their wait for a third Champions League title.
The Bianconeri, who last won the trophy in 1996, have been runners-up on seven occasions, including twice in the last five seasons.
The off-season saw changes both on and off the pitch, with Sarri returning to Italy to replace Massimiliano Allegri in the dugout.
The 60-year-old was only able to take to Juve dugout for the first time on Saturday after overcoming a bout of pneumonia.
They also made waves in the transfer market, with the biggest deal being the €75 million (£68m/$84m) capture of Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt.
Aaron Ramsey also arrived on a free transfer from Arsenal while Danilo signed from Manchester City in a deal that saw Joao Cancelo head on the other direction.
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