The battle took place between an advance guard of the 1st Piedmontese division (General Eusebio Bava) commanded by Federico d'Arvillars and a smaller Austrian detachment under Ludwig von Wohlgemuth in and around the crossing on the river Mincio by Goito.

The objective of the smaller Austrian force was to frustrate the Piedmontese crossing, delaying the enemy advance against Mantua and to destroy the bridge.

The Bersaglieri attack was however not full successful, and momentarily stalled under the accurate fire of the Kaiserjäger protecting the bridge-head in town.

Seeking to end the stalemate and to capture what remained of the crossing, General d'Arvillars ordered some Piedmontese units to march northwards and give the impression that a pontoon may be thrown across the river at another location.

The Austrians regrouped in Mozzecane and then retreated towards Mantua while more Piedmontese troops crossed the damaged bridge and engineers worked to restore the structure.