These were the best Diego Costa v Gareth Barry jokes as the former’s suspected bite on the latter turned out to be a bit of an on-pitch kiss.
The pair squared up to each other towards the end of Everton’s 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Chelsea, and for a moment it looked as if Costa was going in for a Suárez-style chomp on Barry’s shoulder:
Diego Costa ❤️ Gareth Barry pic.twitter.com/wOebQFja4B
— The Soccer Life (@TheSoccerLifee) March 13, 2016
Despite evidently thinking better of it and ‘pulling out’, Costa was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The Toffees midfielder has since confirmed that there was no bite, but there had already been a spate of Diego Costa v Gareth Barry jokes:
Diego Costa's new face mask has been released pic.twitter.com/ea7OPMyFAt
— Monreal (@Mxnreal) March 13, 2016
Diego Costa, naughty boy. pic.twitter.com/pdW0Uf9jSM
— FUTWIZ (@FUTWIZ) March 12, 2016
Diego Costa has just been sent off for the first time in his Chelsea career. pic.twitter.com/cc7fVGzuRE
— 8 Fact Football (@8Fact_Footballl) March 12, 2016
This book will never go out of print. pic.twitter.com/rbN5xdKnTG
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) March 12, 2016
Diego Costa accused of biting an Everton player has said in his defense that he was only trying to chew a Toffee #EvertonVChelsea
— The Bad Doctor (@DOCTORATLARGE) March 13, 2016
When you just can't wait for Netflix & chill….#Costa https://t.co/8GIGZC16aX
— Bread&ButterFootball (@BBFootballUK) March 12, 2016
That Costa/Barry gif is like watching a teenage boy on his first encounter with a girl
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) March 13, 2016
Still a better love story than Twilight… #costa #CFC pic.twitter.com/5Sq35bZywR
— Bread&ButterFootball (@BBFootballUK) March 13, 2016
BREAKING NEWS….. @FA looking to ban Gareth Barry as he told the truth about Costa which breaks a rule they are about to invent
— Danny Boy Blue (@DanSilvs73) March 13, 2016
Wonder if Slaven Bilic has been a major influence in Diego Costa's development…. https://t.co/mopSGf5lGvhttps://t.co/r6zjestrBi
— FootballFanCast.com (@FootballFanCast) March 13, 2016
Diego Costa's response when asked if he bit Gareth Barry. Not really. But go with it. Go on. pic.twitter.com/YjbyBCLoOz
— Dan Leydon (@danleydon) March 12, 2016
Diego costa seems upset by his recent match ban pic.twitter.com/nppVVqkx56
— Verified (@njiiru) March 12, 2016
When you realise Diego Costa's red card yesterday was his first in over 4 years!https://t.co/3yFCETNPPo
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) March 13, 2016
Seriously most of the fight content for this account comes from Diego Costa
— Football Fights (@footbalIfights) March 13, 2016
If Diego Costa was a cat pic.twitter.com/ZrLHfyRzCj
— Football Tweets (@FutballTweets) March 12, 2016
Costa biting and spitting is bad but the real question is was there enough contact to bring Benteke down? In 95th min in front of kids?
— Tim (@timdibs) March 13, 2016