Boca Juniors racked up another victory at the Bombonera this weekend to continue their quest to regain the Primera Division title the Xeneize lifted back in December 2015. Taking three points away from their fearsome home fortress, however, has proved rather more difficult this year.
Goals from Gino Peruzzi, Cristian Pavon, Walter Bou and an own goal from Gaston Aguirre gave Guillermo Barros Schelotto's side a 4-0 victory over Temperley on Saturday, lifting the side to third in the table behind Estudiantes and Newell's Old Boys. It was the coach's seventh league win in 10 at the Bombonera since taking over at the start of 2016, while the former Xeneize striker remains unbeaten on home turf.
On the road, however, the trainer has found life rather harder. Boca has failed to win a single away game, drawing four and losing five of the last nine. That appalling record led to a disappointing mid-table finish in the 2016 Transition season and keeps it seven points behind the current runaway leaders from La Plata, which strengthened its own championship credentials with a hard-fought comeback victory against Racing Club this weekend.
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There is plenty to be positive about for the Buenos Aires giants. Young Pavon has established himself as one of the country's most promising young strikers, forming a fearsome partnership with Carlos Tevez to net three goals so far this tournament.
Fellow youngsters Nazareno Solis, a signing from Primera rivals Talleres, and Colombian Wilmer Barrios made their bows off the bench, showing Boca has plenty of depth in a squad that is one of the strongest in South America. And there was even further cheer Sunday when Fernando Gago marked his return from a serious knee injury by scoring a goal from the team's reserves.
But if Boca can't shake that away jinx, those torrents of goals that flow at the Bombonera - 13 in four games so far this season - may end up counting for nothing. Next weekend's clash against Gimnasia represents another chance for Schelotto's men to beat their demons, and it is a must-win for a club where success is not so much expected as viscerally demanded by the passionate fans.
INTER TEETERS ON BRINK OF HISTORIC DROP
Just six years ago, Porto Alegre's Internacional was the Copa Libertadores champion and preparing to dispute the Club World Cup. But nothing stands still in South America, and now the Brazilian giants face a nailbiting end to the season in order to avoid what would be an historic relegation to Serie B.
A 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Santa Cruz means Inter sits in 16th place, just two points above the relegation zone with five games still to play. Results have picked up somewhat in recent weeks, but the team is still suffering from a chronic lack of goals - just 32 in 33 Serie A games, the third-worst record in the entire league.
Inter is one of five teams that has never been relegated since the Brazilian second tier was incorporated into the professional league system. Porto Alegre rival Gremio has been down twice, and memories of those relegations often are stirred up by Inter fans as a way to mock their neighbors ahead of derbies.
Gremio, however, is hoping to push into the top six and grab a place in the Libertadores, while its rival is fighting for its life. There is no room for error if Inter hopes to avoid an unprecedented, ignominious drop into Serie B.
POL-ICE, CAMERA, ACTION!
Sebastian Pol's incredible attack on a Universidad Catolica fan quickly went viral across the world, bringing to mind the antics of former Manchester United star Eric Cantona. But the moment could have longer-term implications for the Argentine Audax Italiano player, who was taken away from his team's dressing room in handcuffs at the end of the game.
Chilean law allows for stiff sentences to handed down to those convicted of violent acts at football matches, ostensibly to act as a deterrent factor against incidents involving supporters. But despite being on the other side of the security fences, Pol's actions also come under the law's remit, meaning he could face a similar punishment - up to three years in jail.
A Sebastian Pol se me salió la cadena con un hincha de la UC @lacuarta pic.twitter.com/nzR1k0Rsiw
— Hernan Fonseca (@lacuarta_hernan) 29 de octubre de 2016
The Mendoza native has since apologized for the incident, but it remains to be seen whether that contrition will make an impact on authorities. For now, Pol is going to struggle to make an impact for Audax, as he receives an automatic stadium ban - as may the victim, who is accused of insulting and spitting at the Argentine prior to the Cantona moment.
HAS THE COPA PERU RUN ITS COURSE?
It is, without a doubt, one of the most impenetrable, chaotic tournaments in the entire football world. From horrific acts of violence on the pitch to the occasional cow invasion, and an entirely incomprehensible format that needs a physics degree to work out, the Copa Peru is the place where one must always expect the unexpected.
But now, the self-proclaimed "Macho Football" and the world's most heavily populated tournament - 50 teams entered in 2016 - may come to a halt. The Peruvian Football Federation has suspended its second-tier games for the coming weekend after two games ended in utter chaos.
San Jose's 6-3 win over Santo Domingo was postponed when the latter's fourth goal was ruled out for offside. A Santo Domingo player proceeded to punch the linesman in the face and was arrested on sight, while the official required medical assistance.
That, however, was tame compared to the events at Molinos El Pirata's clash with Racing Club de Huamachuco. At the final whistle both sides began to brawl; and for good measure scores of fans climbed the security fences to join in the action, leading to several more arrests.
This most insane of tournaments now hangs in the balance, as the FPF resolved to keep play paralyzed until security could be guaranteed.