It’s the 47th minute. A wayward pass to Savićević on the right wing. Miguel Ángel Nadal’s got it covered. But the Barça defender lets the ball bounce – twice. The first one we’ll forgive: he can’t get there in time. But he arrives too soon for the second and, by the time the ball sits up, he’s got no room to swing his leg.
Savićević is bearing down (gentle jog). As Nadal makes a forlorn attempt to put boot through ball, it’s nicked off him; the ball balloons into the air again. Savićević is in space on the right-hand side of the penalty area. No team-mates in the box. Ball still airborne. Control it and head for the byline? Trap it and wait for reinforcements? Il Genio has a better idea.
Goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta is playing his 410th game for Barcelona. Experienced. He advances but a couple of yards off his line in the direction of Savićević. Makes sense. He doesn’t suspect that he’s about to concede the penultimate goal of his Barcelona career. He’ll be playing for Valencia next season – will the next three seconds haunt him at Mestalla?
Savićević, unlike Nadal, lets the ball bounce once. Then he lofts it with his left foot, like a golfer hitting a flop shot from the edge of the green. There’s something about the arc of the ball: time speeds up and slows down at the same time, which is impossible but…
Zubizarreta shuffles backwards, flings himself in the air. This isn’t fair. Is the ball really dipping through that tiny gap between bar and fingertip? Sì.
The game finished 4-0. Savićević’s effort won’t go down as the most important goal ever scored in a Champions League final. There was no drama in its timing, nor significance in its context. But, by Zeus, it was glorious.
