In the ongoing Apertura 2007 Torneo, Independiente are the current leaders with 25 points, followed closely by Lanus with 24 and Boca Juniors with 23.

In the recent Superclasico featuring Argentina football rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors, the Boca Juniors were hoping to get 3 points in order to take the lead from Independiente in the 2007 Apertura Toreno of the Primera Division Argentina. However, for the Boca Juniors to win at the home stadium of River Plate is indeed a tall order, and River Plate has remained unbeaten at the Monumental Stadium.

True enough, River Plate maintained their home pitch unbeaten record when they defeated the Boca Juniors 2-0 in the Superclasico. River Plate found the back of the Boca Juniors goal in just 23 minutes with a goal from River Plate's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao. River's Fernando Belluschi rocketed a shot that went off the crossbar and landed in front of Falcao, who left-footed the loose ball into the goal past Boca keeper Mauricio Caranata.

10 minutes later, Boca's Gabriel Paletta fouled River midfielder Diego Buonanotte inside the box, and the referee awarded River Plate with a penalty. River Plate forward Ariel Ortega took the spot kick, and was saved initially by Boca keeper Mauricio Caranata. However, referee Hector Baldassi ordered another penalty to be taken due to infringements made by the Boca players. This time, Ariel Ortega made no mistake and scored River's second goal to give a 2-0 advantage over Boca Juniors.

In a very rough and intense match, the Boca Juniors soon foudn themselves one man down when Boca midfielder Ever Banega was expelled before the end of the first half. With one man and two goals down, it was difficult for Boca to find many opportunities to score against River Plate, although they did make a few threats.

However, River Plate was able to hold on to win the match against the Boca Juniors, handing Boca their fourth loss of the 2007 Apertura Tournament of the Primera Division Argentina.

Boca Juniors head coach Miguel Angel Russo is very disappointed with the loss to their rivals, but is not going to cry over spilled milk. Russo has to prepare his team for the remaining 6 games of the 2007 Apertura Torneo, and knows that Boca has to perform better for each match if they are going to overtake Primera Division Argentina leaders Independiente, who lead Boca by 2 points.

The all-time Superclasico standings between Boca Juniors and River Plate shows that Boca Juniors have won a total of 64 matches while River has won 60. Boca and River have drawn 56 times. All in all, the Superclasico has gone for 180 matches overall, and is really the biggest event in Argentina football.

Incidentally, clashes between River and Boca fans have resulted in the arrest of some 150 Argentine soccer fans around the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. There were 1,300 police officers and securtiy personnel involved in the Superclasico showdown between River and Boca. That just goes to show how the passion of this rivalry can sometimes get really out of hand, and how preparations must be made to counter them.

The next Superclasico betwen River Plate and Boca Juniors won't be until next year for the 2008 Clausura Torneo of the Primera Division de Argentina.

Meanwhile, the Boca Juniors remaining 6 matches in their quest for the 2007 Apertura Torneo championship will be against Estudiantes La Plata(October 21), Racing Club (Novmeber 4), Velez Sarsfield (November 11), Arsenal de Sarandi (November 25), Lanus (December 2) and Tigre (December 9).

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