Foot Nostalgia: Rivaldo and the bicycle of victory with Barça

It is in the big matches that we see who the big players are. The pressure is at its peak on this sweet evening of June 18, 2001, at Camp Nou. The Catalan lawn, moistened by the rain, is trampled by some of the biggest names in FC Barcelona, ​​whether young Carles Puyol (23) and Xavi (21) or the experienced Pep Guardiola (30) . But in a generally gloomy team, a man will restore the image of Barça: Rivaldo.

"I never thought I'd score such a goal."

Restore, because the Blaugranas were no longer the machine erected by Johan Cruyff in the early 90s. Before hosting Valencia for the last day of Liga, the Barcelonians point to 5th place in Liga just behind ... Valencia. It is therefore a final for the top 4 which is preparing, with the challenge of qualifying for the next Champions League. Rivaldo knows that Barça is playing its season and does not wait: from the 3rd minute, the Brazilian opens the score with a free kick to 25 meters. The equalization of Baraja (25th, 1-1) calms the ardor of Barcelona for a time. Rivaldo gives the advantage to his own from a long shot from the left just before half-time (45th, 2-1). Valence and Baraja, by a double, cling (47th, 2-2). The clock is ticking, Catalonia is tense. Then the magic happens.

Rivaldo's acrobatic overturn against Valencia in June 2001

The match enters in the 88th minute, Barça besieges the Valencian camp. At 30 meters, Frank de Boer stings a somewhat hazardous full-axis balloon. Rivaldo chest control back to goal, at the entrance to the surface. "I knew I was far enough from the goal and therefore had to pull very hard," he told The Independent years later . The 1999 Ballon d'Or rises and surprises Santiago Canizares with a bicycle on the left foot. “A perfect shot, Rivaldo analyzes with pride. I never thought I'd score such a goal. It was perfect because it came at the very end of a very important match for Barça. " Valence is defeated and ahead in the standings by the goal difference. "It was 18 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday," says Rivaldo. I hear about it almost every day. I will never forget this match. ”

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