Parma, 25 February 2022 – As you head down the steps to get out onto the stands of the Curva Nord at the Stadio Ennio Tardini – the heart of the fanbase – there’s a mural of a Parma icon.
It hearkens back to an epic game against SPAL in Serie C1, played in the afternoon of Sunday 13 May 1984.
It is a key date in Crociati History.
That day not only bore witness to a massive 4-1 win that preceded promotion to Serie B in June for Marino Perani’s side.
It also perfectly encapsulated the relationship between one player and the fans, one of those rare figures that are known as a Club legend.
It’s a picture of Massimo Barbuti’s classic goal celebration, affixed to the walls of the Curva.
On that day, Massimo bagged all four goals for Parma that day, the first three of which were all headers.
The mural captures the joy following the second goal – in the 63rd minute – as Barbuti turned home Tiziano Ascagni’s ball in.
He had given Parma the lead in the 40th minute from winger Stefano Mariani’s cross.
The hattrick goal came in the 79th minute following a brilliant pass on the volley by inside forward Fausto Salsano.
In the 90th minute, Barbuti got his, and Parma’s, fourth as he dinked it over goalkeeper Riccarco Cervellati.
Barbuti lost his marker and latched onto a perfect pass from Salsano, who again used his creativity to wreak havoc in the SPAL defensive line.
Just for the sake of the record, SPAL’s goal was scored in the 44th minute by Franco Pezzato.
Photos: Barbuti’s celebration after the second goal; the Crociati fans in the Curva Nord; Massimo embraces a ballboy after the hattrick goal.
