Argentina's big boys make stuttering starts
The new season's underway in Argentina, with last weekend seeing the second round of fixtures completed and a few surprise names topping the table.
Newell's Old Boys lead the way, while Huracan lie in second and Arsenal third.
You can't read too much into the table at such an early stage, but Huracan's 4-1 drubbing of Racing must have caused some glee among the Quemeros ('Burners' - their stadium is near a landfill) who have had very little to celebrate for several years.
Newell's not only went straight to the top of the league, but did so by beating Boca 2-0 in the Bombonera. Maybe Boca's youngsters do have a little more to learn.
Boca slip up at home to Newell's
With losses for Boca, Racing, San Lorenzo and Independiente, River were the only team of the big five to win, beating Central 2-1. Even more incredible is that they still had some fans left after last season's rock bottom-placed finish.
Early days it may be, and I once again predict Boca to run away with the league, and possibly the Libertadores although my Brazilian friends may have something to say about that.
Next weekend is one of the biggest derbies in Argentina: Independiente vs Racing.
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I've covered one of these games for the More Than Just A Game feature in FourFourTwo and can vouch for its intensity. There is a deep divide between the fans of both teams despite their stadiums literally being less than 400 metres apart. Here's a clip to wet your appetite (plus another of a wonderful goal from new daddy Sergio Aguero).
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