The stakes were high. A place in the Champions League for the 2001-02 season depended on the result of the final game of the La Liga season for Barcelona and Valencia. A draw would seal the deal for Valencia as they were 3 points ahead of Barcelona. Only a win would put Barcelona through and the win against Valencia at the Mestalla earlier in the season would prove decisive since both the teams would then be tied on points. I remember watching the game around midnight in India. Barcelona were looking for their talisman Rivaldo to deliver and they were not disappointed!
In the 4th minute of the game, Rivaldo swerved a brilliant free kick above the wall and into the bottom right corner and the Valencia goalkeeper Canizares had no chance. It clipped the post on its way in but there was no denying the quality of the free kick. Barcelona up 1-0 and their supporters were happy. In the 26th minute, Valencia equalized courtesy of a Ruben Baraja goal off an Aimar assist.
It was almost the end of the first half and with time added on Rivaldo received a pass from Barjuan, feigned a strike, took two more touches and then hit a shot of such ferocity that it magically evaded three defenders and landed in the bottom left hand corner of the net leaving Canizares stranded again. Rivaldo held up the Barcelona badge with pride. Barcelona up 2-1 with Rivaldo carrying the team on his shoulders.
Two minutes into the second half, Valencia equalized again courtesy of Baraja much to the chagrin of the Barca supporters. The score was 2-2. In the next 40 minutes opportunity after opportunity went abegging. Rivaldo came close again with a few free kicks. The Barcelona fans were in despair. Then in the 89th minute, Frank De Boer looped the ball over a defender – Rivaldo received it on his left chest. Then with a marvellous display of skill and precision he scooped the ball up off his chest and hit an overhead kick into the bottom right corner of the net all the time with his back to the goal. No chance for Canizares and Game, Set, Match Barcelona. Barcelona – 3, Valencia – 2. Rivaldo took off his shirt and celebrated deservingly getting the yellow card in the process but he could care less. Barcelona were through to Champions League football with that amazing bicycle kick.
This performance epitomized what the beautiful game is all about. All three goals were scored from outside the box. No goalkeeper on earth could have stopped any of these goals and the third one was a goal for the ages. I have witnessed some amazing hat-tricks from many including Messi and Ronaldo but on that summer night what Rivaldo carved up will stay in my memory as the mother of all hat-tricks. The fact that it was Guardiola’s last La Liga game in a Barcelona shirt or Xavi who would become one of the best players in the world but would come in as a substitute was purely academic. It was all about Rivaldo.
What vision! What timing! What magic! What a genius!!!!