FC Barcelona is one of the most successful clubs in European football, with a rich history filled with iconic players and unforgettable moments. Yet, their long legacy has also allowed some opponents to enjoy the spotlight when facing them.
One of the most memorable examples is former Italian midfielder Mauro Bressan, who scored a stunning bicycle-kick goal against the Catalan giants in the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League.
Bressan was playing for Fiorentina at the time, and on November 2, 1999, his team hosted Barcelona at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in a match that ended 3–3. Rivaldo scored twice and Luis Figo added another for the visitors, but it was Bressan’s extraordinary strike that has lived on in football history.
The Italian midfielder connected with a loose, bouncing ball well outside the Barcelona box and produced a remarkable overhead kick that left goalkeeper Francesc Arnau with no chance. The goal has since been described as one of the greatest ever scored in the Champions League.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, as [Mundo Deportivo](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20251112/1002568202/mi-gol-chilena-barca-me-pongo-dia-30-anos.html) has reported, Bressan reflected on that magical night and how it continues to define his footballing legacy.
**“The Franchi was packed, the lights were blinding, the ball was descending slowly like a bell, and I saw the dream of that kid who helped his parents as a waiter in their family restaurant come true. Nearly 30 years have passed, I’m 54, and I still watch that goal once a day.”**
In 2020, France Football ranked Bressan’s strike second among the best goals in Champions League history, just behind Zinedine Zidane’s famous volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 final. The Italian takes pride in that comparison but insists his goal remains unique.
**“Jokes aside, Cristiano’s goal against Juve was perfect, but I’ve still never seen anyone score from an aerial ball, without a cross from the right or left, like I did. Trapattoni told me after that match that they’d talk about it for decades.”**
That match against Barcelona was a defining night for Bressan, who also provided a clever back-heel assist for Abel Balbo later in the game. Reflecting on his career, he shared that he had practiced overhead kicks since his youth, even scoring one during his Under-18 days at Coverciano:
**“In Coverciano, when I was U-18. I used to practice them in training, but that night against Barça was magical. Something came out of me — the same kid who used to practice overhead kicks over sandbags. I wasn’t thinking about where I was, the Champions League, or Rivaldo, who scored twice that day. The hardest part was the lights: I could barely see the ball.”**
Bressan also revealed a nostalgic wish. He hopes that Panini, the iconic Italian sticker company, will one day place him alongside Carlo Parola in their album, both immortalised mid-air performing bicycle kicks at the Franchi.
More than 25 years later, Mauro Bressan’s extraordinary goal still stands as one of the most spectacular ever scored against FC Barcelona, a timeless reminder of football’s ability to create magic in a single moment.