In May, an Austrian army under Prince Eugene of Savoy[b] entered Northern Italy and won a series of victories which by February 1702 forced the French behind the Adda river.

Although Vendôme escorted a resupply convoy into Mantua, Eugene continued the blockade, basing himself behind fortified positions or la fossa Montanara near Borgoforte and a number of bloody skirmishes took place.

In early July, Vendôme reached the village of Sissa with Philip based further south at Castelvetro di Modena and the two armies then linked up at Castelnuovo.

Assuming they were advancing on Guastalla, Eugene detached three cavalry regiments under General Visconti to observe the French movements and on the evening of 23 July, they camped at the small village of Santa Vittoria, near modern day Gualtieri.

[5] He was successful in achieving surprise, his cavalry arriving late in the morning of 26 July when most of the Imperialist horse were grazing and the French cut off their retreat by seizing the bridge over the River Crostolo.