#3 Rivaldo’s disallowed goal (March 2001), Final Result (Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona)
Rivaldo was in sensational form on that night at the Bernabeu, with his deadly finishing and composure earning him two goals. Time was running out with both the clubs looking to get that goal which could get them the 3 points that could make the difference in the title race.
The game looked all set to end with the clubs sharing the points between them. Seconds were left in the match when Rivaldo sensed an opportunity to score the decisive goal. He unleashed a brilliant shot outside the box which deflected into the bottom right corner of the opposition’s net. Rivaldo had ended this game in the perfect way scoring a hat-trick and ensuring victory over arch rivals Real Madrid OR SO IT SEEMED...... .
To the surprise of the fans and Barcelona players who were overjoyed, the goal was ruled out offside by the referee The linesman’s decision to raise the flag prompted this disastrous verdict with Pep Guardiola incensed at this injustice to his club.
Rivaldo displayed monk-like resilience at that moment though his comments on his website indicated how annoyed he was about this decision.:"We played a great game but they stole victory from us. I'll never be able to forget what happened because we deserved to win. The problem is that referees want Real Madrid to win the league."
Barcelona president Joan Gaspar's disappointment was apparent from his comments after the game-
"I feel like I've had my wallet stolen.
"I think someone has decided that Barcelona shouldn't win the league this year."
