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Diego Costa becomes latest masked man in Chelsea's 'Zorro team'

Numerous Chelsea players have worn protective masks in recent seasons

Diego Costa became the latest Chelsea player to wear a protective face mask in their 5-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday Night Football.

Chelsea 5-1 Newcastle
Chelsea 5-1 Newcastle

Pedro scored twice as Chelsea thrashed Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

The striker, who scored Chelsea's opening goal at Stamford Bridge, broke his nose in a collision with young defender Fikayo Tomori in training on Thursday.

Costa joined Cesar Azpilicueta in wearing a mask against the Magpies, with the Spanish defender still recovering from a fractured cheekbone.

Diego Costa and Cesar Azpilicueta wore face masks against Newcastle
Image: Diego Costa and Cesar Azpilicueta wore face masks against Newcastle

"We are a team with a lot of masks," joked manager Guus Hiddink in his pre-match press conference. "We are a Zorro team!"

Nemanja Matic stretches into a challenge on Hector Herrera
Image: Nemanja Matic makes a tackle against Porto while wearing a face mask

Indeed, Costa and Azpilicueta are not the only Chelsea players to have worn masks this season, with Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill also sustaining facial injuries earlier in the campaign.

Connor Wickham of Crystal Palace and Gary Cahill of Chelsea compete for the ball
Image: Defender Gary Cahill had to wear a mask earlier this season

The spate of facial injuries would be unusual by most club's standards, but for Chelsea it has been an oddly recurrent theme over the last few years.

Olivier Giroud, Cesc Fabregas, booking, Arsenal v Chelsea, Premier League
Image: Cesc Fabregas had to wear a mask for a part of last season

Cesc Fabregas had to wear a mask after a clash with Stoke's Charlie Adam at Stamford Bridge last season, and in 2012/13 Fernando Torres wore a mask for two months of the campaign after breaking his nose.

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Fernando Torres wears a face mask in a Champions League tie against Basel
Image: Fernando Torres wears a face mask in a Champions League tie against Basel

Petr Cech had to wear a mask beneath his usual headgear in the 2011/12 campaign, and back in 2007/08 John Terry had to wear the same kind of protective gear.

Petr Cech wore a mask under his helmet in the 2011/12 season
Image: Petr Cech wore a mask under his helmet in the 2011/12 season

Other former Chelsea players to have worn masks include midfielder Ramires, defender Paulo Ferreira and striker Demba Ba.

Costa worse a transparent face mask in the 2007/08 campaign
Image: Terry wore a transparent face mask in the 2007/08 campaign

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