The hooligans stuck a pistol into the Racing Club midfielder's knee on Tuesday and promised to "blow off" his leg unless he played better for the struggling first-division team, regarded as one of the "big five" in the local game.

Fan-related violence is endemic in Argentine football.

It has escalated in recent weeks, with threats against players and heads of several clubs.

The non-profit group, Let's Save Football, says at least six people have died in the past six months in football-related violence.

It says the Argentine Football Association has done little to stem the violence.

Nicolas Aguirre opened the scoring for the home side after 15 minutes and Emilio Zelaya doubled the advantage after 26.

Mario Regueiro pulled a goal back for the visitor, with 37 minutes gone but Jorge Ortiz sealed the points for the home side when he scored a minute later.

The win leaves Sarandi a point behind Boca Juniors and level with Tigre, while Lanus lies 12th.

Second-half substitute Lucas Viatri scored a spectacular goal in the 69th minute, receiving a pass with a back heel and flicking it instantly over his shoulder - then chasing it down and pounding home a 15-metre volley.

Nicolas Blandi added another in the 82nd with a 15-metre rising shot.

Boca has 29 points from 15 matches, one better than Tigre and Newell's.

Boca rested many of its top players including key midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme, preparing for a second-leg quarter-final at Brazil's Fluminense on Thursday (AEST) in the Copa Libertadores. Boca leads 1-0 after the first leg in Argentina.

In other results Rafaela and Colon drew 0-0, Belgrano beat Velez Sarsfield 1-0 and Olimpo accounted for Independiente 2-1.

Nestor Silvera scored the only goal in Belgrano's victory.

Another Nestor - this time Nestor Bareiro - netted the winner for Olimpo in the 68th minute. He also scored in the seventh to put Olimpo ahead. Ernesto Farias scored in the 20th for Independiente.

Boca is looking for a big sweep this season. It won the first half of the Argentine season - called the Apertura - and is on course to win the second half, too.

The famous Buenos Aires club is also a favourite to reach the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores, which it has won six times.

Luna put the host ahead after 16 minutes, but the lead lasted just three minutes before Victor Figueroa equalised.

Luna bagged his second five minutes before the break then completed his hat-trick eight minutes from time to seal the win.

Tigre finished the match with 10 men as half-time substitute Matias Escobar saw red in the closing moments.

The result leaves the two sides level on points, with Tigre ahead on goal difference, though Boca Juniors, two points back, can go top with a win at Racing Club on Sunday.

In the day's other game, Ciro Rius netted three minutes from time to rescue a 1-1 draw for Argentinos Juniors at Godoy Cruz, who had opened the scoring through Ruben Ramirez in the 65th minute.

With Newell's having moved three points clear at the summit on Sunday (AEST) thanks to a 3-1 victory over Union Santa Fe, Julio Cesar Falcioni's side was looking to respond but could find no way through the Velez defence.

The host's cause was not helped by the dismissal of Facundo Roncaglia four minutes before half-time. The visitor could not capitalise on its man advantage but moved up a place to sixth with the point.

Third-placed Tigre was also held to a draw, 1-1 at Colon Santa Fe, after playing for three quarters of the match a man down.

Carlos Luna secured the point with a 13th-minute leveller after Sebastian Prediger had put Colon ahead in the first minute. Tigre defender Lucas Orban saw red in the 22nd minute but there were no further goals.

Elsewhere, Jose Morales netted an 89th-minute winner as Argentinos Juniors edged Racing Club 2-1 to climb to ninth.

The game looked to be heading for a draw after Juan Ramirez's early opener for Argentinos was swiftly cancelled out by Valentin Viola, but Morales had other ideas.

The host had Sergio Escudero sent off in the dying seconds but there was no time for Racing to find an equaliser.

Finally, early goals from Diego Braghieri and Mariano Pavone earned Lanus a 2-0 triumph over Banfield, Facundo Ferreira's late effort proving scant consolation for the second-bottom visitor.

First-half goals from Victor Figueroa, Santiago Vergini and Maximiliano Urruti put the host in the driving seat, with Matias Donnet's 58th-minute strike proving little more than consolation for the visitor, whose misery was compounded by the late dismissal of Juan Avendano.

The triumph gave Newell's a three-point cushion at the summit over Boca Juniors, who face Velez Sarsfield on Sunday night, and Arsenal, who won 4-1 at San Martin San Juan a day earlier.

All Boys consolidated fifth spot and remained four points behind Newell's thanks to a convincing 3-0 victory at Independiente. Martin Morel, Matias Rudler and Mauro Matos were the men on target.

Bottom-of-the-table Olimpo picked up only its eighth point in 14 games in a 1-1 draw at San Lorenzo - and Nestor Bareiro's second-half strike would have earned all three points had Emmanuel Gigliotti not snatched a last-gasp equaliser for San Lorenzo in a frenetic finale which also saw Olimpo midfielder Damian Musto sent off.

There was also late action at Belgrano Cordoba, where Alexis Castro's 89th-minute goal secured Atletico Rafaela a 1-1 draw after Claudio Perez's fifth-minute penalty had put the home team ahead.

Emilio Zelaya gave the visitor the perfect start when he converted a fifth-minute penalty, and Damian Perez doubled its advantage 13 minutes later.

Nicolas Aguirre grabbed a third goal eight minutes after the interval and, although Sebastian Penco immediately pulled one back, Carlos Carbonero added his name to the scoresheet before the hour mark to re-establish Arsenal's three-goal cushion.

The victory saw Arsenal join leaders Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys on 25 points - trailing only on goal difference, albeit having played a game more - while San Martin dropped a position to 17th after the heavy loss.

Eighteenth-placed Godoy Cruz remained five points adrift of San Martin, though, after going down 1-0 at Estudiantes.

Leandro Desabato netted the game's only goal on the stroke of half-time to lift Estu up to eighth.

Gerardo Alcoba gave his side the perfect start by netting the opening goal in the first minute, while Esteban Fuertes made the points safe 18 minutes from time.

The result put the victor three points clear of its visitor and five points behind leader Boca Juniors, after 13 matches.

Boca appeared to have lost its grip on top spot as Dario Gandin put Atletico ahead from the spot five minutes into stoppage time, but there was still time for Nicolas Blandi to equalise.

Pablo Mouche had put Boca ahead after 31 minutes, only for Fabricio Fontanini to equalise on the hour.

Newell's was also forced to come from behind as Maximiliano Laso gave the host the lead in the 16th minute.

Victor Figueroa levelled three minutes later and Pablo Perez scored the winner 15 minutes from time.

All Boys could have pulled within two points of the leaders with a win over San Lorenzo but it was held to a goalless draw.

Racing Club put some distance between itself and the bottom sides with a 2-0 win over Estudiantes.

Lucas Aveldano opened the scoring in the 39th minute and, after Rodrigo Brana was sent off for the visitor four minutes from the end, substitute Giovanni Moreno added a second in the dying moments.

In the day's other game, Cesar Carranza's seventh-minute goal gave Lanus a 1-0 win at Godoy Cruz.

Maggiolo opened the scoring after 17 minutes, then Luna netted just before the half-hour and on the stroke of half-time as the game was effectively killed off in the first period.

Maggiolo bagged his second seven minutes after the restart as Tigre pulled level on points at the summit with Boca, which faces Atletico Rafaela on Monday (AEST).

Arsenal Sarandi went fourth, two points off the leader, with a 3-1 win over Independiente.

The host led 3-0 by half-time thanks to strikes from Guillermo Burdisso and Emilio Zelaya, which sandwiched a Gabriel Milito own goal.

Facundo Parra pulled one back after 69 minutes but any hopes of a comeback were killed off with the dismissal of Julian Velazquez three minutes later.

The win allowed Arsenal to overtake Velez Sarsfield, which slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home against Argentinos Juniors.

Santiago Naguel in the 52nd minute and Pablo Hernandez from the spot seven minutes from time got the goals.

Cadena Ser radio reported the LFP had met with the state prosecutor to ask for an investigation into recent matches, with reports in Spain suggesting Sporting Gijon's 3-0 win at Espanyol on Sunday (Sunday AEDT) was among them.

The LFP said it had not lodged any complaint about irregularities but met with the state authorities to discuss means of working together to investigate and prevent match-fixing in Spain.

"The LFP has not asked the state prosecutor for an investigation into irregularities involving matches from this season in the first and second division," the LFP said in a statement.

"The LFP met with the state prosecutor several weeks ago with the LFP's interests at heart, as it looks to prevent any type of situation that could be deemed illegal."

The LFP vowed to use all means necessary to prosecute any one found guilty of being involved in match-fixing.

Both Espanyol and Sporting hit out at Cadena Cope radio for using unnamed sources to report that their clubs were under investigation, with Sporting president Manuel Vega-Arango saying legal proceedings against the radio station were being considered.

"These things disgust me and I'm very angry about it," Vega-Arango said.

"We're a modest club, economically speaking, but we're very big with a sensational fan base that does not deserve these things."

Sporting is four points from safety with three games to play as relegation to the second division looms.

Cadena Ser also reported European governing body UEFA was investigating suspect betting patterns involving Spanish games.

Jorge Velazquez and Matias Donnet netted inside the last 18 minutes as the home side moved up to seventh and inflicted a sixth defeat in seven away games on the bottom club.

Arsenal Sarandi missed out on the chance to join second placed Newell's Old Boys on 22 points as it slipped to a 2-0 defeat at San Lorenzo.

Juan Salgueiro opened the scoring in the 31st minute and Emmanuel Gigliotti doubled the lead 11 minutes from time as San Lorenzo moved into the top half.

In the other match played, Argentinos Juniors is still seeking a first home win after a goalless draw with Atletico Rafaela.

Santiago Silva got the only goal in the 36th minute as Boca saw off Colon Santa Fe, with Moreno y Fabianesi's late dismissal capping a bad day for the visitors.

Newell's Old Boys needed a last-minute goal from Martin Tonso to earn a 1-1 home draw against All Boys, who had led through Mauro Matos' fifth minute effort.

The visitor had Juan Rodriguez dismissed 11 minutes into the second half, although the numbers were evened up five minutes from time when substitute Guillermo Ortiz also saw red.

Independiente climbed into the top half with a 2-0 win over Banfield.

However, the home side left it late before seeing off its second-from-bottom opponent, with Osmar Ferreyra and Ernesto Farias netting in the last 19 minutes.

Federico Insua and Juan Manuel Martinez got the goals in the first half, which enabled the visiting side to climb to 23 points, two clear of Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys.

Lanus moved into mid-table with a 3-1 home success over Racing Club.

Carlos Izquierdoz and Mariano Pavone gave Lanus a two-goal interval lead and Silvio Romero wrapped up the points in the 65th minute, before substitute Valentin Viola pulled a goal back five minutes from the end.

The home side, which would have joined Boca on 21 points with a win, took the lead in the 47th minute through Dario Benedetto.

However, Newell's Old Boys, which started the game just a point behind the leader, levelled 11 minutes into the second half through Victor Figueroa.

Boca needed a Walter Erviti leveller on 49 minutes to take a point, after Matias Gimenez opened the scoring on 23 minutes, to present Newell's Old Boys with the chance to take over that the top.

Newell's takes on Arsenal tomorrow knowing victory will move it two points clear at the summit.

All Boys moved up to fifth, two points adrift of Boca, with a 2-1 home win over Union Santa Fe.

Early goals from Emanuel Perea (seven) and Martin Zapata (23pen) set up the win despite Rodrigo Erramuspe (35) pulling a goal back.

Nicolas Tagliafico's last-minute equaliser earned Banfield a 1-1 draw with San Lorenzo, which had led when Carlos Bueno struck on 64 minutes.

Godoy Cruz was held to a goalless draw by 10-man Independiente, which had Adrian Argacha dismissed six minutes from the end.

The defending champion joined a four-way tie at the top after it failed to break down lowly Lanus, which had Mario Regueiro sent off on 81 minutes.

Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys can pull away from Velez at the top when they play later this weekend while the other team locked on 20 points is Tigre.

Colon moved up to sixth as Esteban Fuertes scored the only goal of its 1-0 win over Argentinos Juniors on 33 minutes.

Estudiantes slipped up 3-2 at Atletico Rafaela which grabbed control thanks to early goals from Oscar Carniello (15) and Matias Fissore (20).

Mauro Boselli pulled one back on the stroke of half-time but a 56th-minute Dario Gandin penalty gave Atletico the breathing space to allow Duvan Zapata to reply six minutes later.

Racing Club beat nine-man San Martin San Juan 1-0 thanks to an 84th-minute goal from substitute Pablo Caballero.

San Martin San Juan had Raul Saavedra sent off on 64 minutes and he was followed by Maximiliano Bustos a minute after the goal.

Martin Galmarini scored the game's only goal on 40 minutes, although Tigre had to hold onto its advantage with 10 men after Mariano Echeverria was sent off a minute later.

Olimpo also lost a man late on, following Gabriel Diaz's 85th-minute dismissal, as Tigre joins Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys at the top, albeit having played a game more.

Mario Regueiro scored the winning goal from the penalty spot after 37 minutes to lift Lanus off the foot of the table.

The Buenos Aires club had taken just a single point from its past seven games, five of which were 1-0 defeats, to leave it in early-season trouble.

Boca appeared to have rescued a point when Juan Insaurralde netted in the 79th minute to cancel out Diego Morales' 27th-minute opener.

But Schiavi inadvertently intervened, allowing Newell's Old Boys to pull level on points with the leader courtesy of a 3-0 win over Banfield.

All the goals came in the last 21 minutes, with Santiago Vergini, Fabian Munoz and Victor Aquino all scoring.

Newell's overtook Arsenal Sarandi, which slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Union Santa Fe.

Juan Cavallo scored the only goal seven minutes into the second half, while Arsenal had Jorge Ortiz sent off moments from the end.

The day's other game, between Argentinos Juniors and Belgrano Cordoba, finished 0-0, with Juan Sabia sent off for the host after 70 minutes.

A Cristian Grabinski own goal gave Velez the lead in the 32nd minute, but Facundo Affranchino levelled a minute before the break.

Substitute Leandro Velazquez re-established the visitors' lead 10 minutes from time and Lucas Pratto grabbed a third five minutes later, but in the 87th minute the referee called a halt to proceedings when fans invaded the pitch.

All Boys pulled itself into sixth place in the standings, level on points with Estudiantes, as it won 2-1 at basement boy Olimpo.

Mauro Matos put the visitor ahead after seven minutes, but Nestor Bareiro equalised 15 minutes later.

Martin Zapata struck in the 68th minute to claim the points for All Boys.

Facundo Parra scored twice to help Independiente to a 4-1 win over nine-man Racing Club.

Racing took the lead through Teofilo Gutierrez in the 27th minute, but Parra levelled nine minutes later, then scored from the spot in the 59th minute after Bruno Zuculini had been sent off.

Gutierrez then became the second man to see red, before Patricio Rodriguez and substitute Patricio Vidal padded the hosts' lead in the closing moments.

Two first-half goals from Emmanuel Gigliotti lifted San Lorenzo to a 3-0 victory over Godoy Cruz.

Substitute Christian Chavez added a third eight minutes before the end.

Gaston Fernandez put Estudiantes ahead on the stroke of half-time but second-half efforts from Ivan Moreno y Fabianesi and Gerardo Alcoba turned the match around.

Boselli then struck to ensure the spoils were shared, leaving his side four points off the top of the table ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures.

Mauro Boselli opened the scoring for Estudiantes after 13 minutes, but the host drew level through Esteban Gonzalez in the 51st minute.

Trouble flared in the 63rd minute when both sides saw a player dismissed - Nestor Silvera for the host and Leandro Desabato for Estudiantes - and there was more drama to come as Gonzalez's second goal after 82 minutes secured the points for Cordoba.

Victory would have taken Estudiantes into third place, two points behind leader Boca Juniors, but instead it remains in fifth place, just a point ahead of Cordoba which climbs to seventh.

In the day's other game, Godoy Cruz and Newell's Old Boys played out a 1-1 draw.

Godoy took the lead through Juan Garro after 47 minutes, but hit trouble six minutes later when the dismissal of Nicolas Olmedo left it defending its lead a man light.

The host looked as though it had done enough to hold on for the win, but Newell's grabbed an equaliser in injury-time as Maximiliano Urruti fired home.

The point leaves Newell's in third place, while Godoy climbs to 14th.

The visitor stunned the home crowd when Pablo Hernandez put it ahead after just two minutes, but Juan Insaurralde levelled on the stroke of half-time, and Dario Cvitanich got what proved to be the winner in the 66th minute.

Moments after he did so, Argentinos had Nicolas Berardo dismissed.

Tigre fell six points off the pace at the top as it slumped to a 2-0 defeat against the 10 men of All Boys.

The host led through Martin Zapata's 34th-minute goal, and although Fernando Sanchez was dismissed midway through the second half for a second bookable offence, Juan Rodriguez made sure of the points with a late strike.

That allowed Colon Santa Fe to move to within a point of Tigre in seventh place as Ernesto Chevanton's 87th-minute strike was enough to see off Lanus 1-0.

Both sides finished with 10 men and there were two last minute penalties as Banfield and Union Santa Fe battled to a 2-2 draw.

Hernan Lopez put Banfield in front after 28 minutes, but Banfield's Andres Chavez and Santa Fe's Fabricio Nunez saw red - the latter only seven minutes after coming on as a substitute - before Diego Barisone levelled in the 73rd minute.

There was more drama to come as Banfield's Facundo Ferreira and Santa Fe's Diego Jara traded 90th-minute penalties to ensure a draw.

Atletico Rafaela came from behind to beat San Martin San Juan 3-1.

The visitor led after 28 minutes through Mauro Bogado, but two goals in five minutes from Sebastian Carrera and Alexis Castro turned it around just before the break.

An 87th-minute strike from Dario Gandin then made sure.

Jorge Ortiz scored the winner in the 76th minute, five minutes after Olimpo's Martin Guedes had cancelled out Nicolas Aguirre's first-half opener.

The win sends Arsenal one point clear of Boca Juniors at the summit, having played a game more.

Arsenal id two points clear of third-placed Velez Sarsfield, which was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Independiente.

The visitor led through Facundo Parra after only five minutes before Lucas Pratto levelled midway through the first half.

Boca was 2-0 up inside 24 minutes thanks to goals from Santiago Silva and Pablo Ledesma, before Pablo Mouche rounded off the scoring in the 68th minute.

To make matter worse for Estudiantes, results elsewhere meant it slipped from first to fifth in the table.

Newell's Old Boys beat Racing Club 2-0 to go second, with second-half goals from Maximiliano Urruti and Pablo Perez.

Velez Sarsfield's 2-0 win at San Lorenzo sent it third.

Alejandro Cabral opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but it had to wait until six minutes from the end to get its second through half-time substitute Ivan Bella.

And Arsenal Sarandi also overtook Estudiantes, going fourth with a 2-0 win at All Boys despite playing nearly half the match with 10 men.

Gustavo Leschuk opened the scoring in the 24th minute and Arsenal had a moment of fortune when Mauro Matos missed a penalty just before the break.

Victor Cuesta then saw red two minutes into the second half, but substitute Diego Torres added a second in the 64th minute.

Roberval snatched a point for San Martin San Juan in a 2-2 draw against Colon Santa Fe.

San Martin took the lead in the 36th minute though Marcelo Carrusca, but Javier Chevanton levelled three minutes later and it appeared to have thrown away all three points when Leandro Gonzalez netted in the 87th minute, only for Roberval to intervene a minute later.

The host found itself 2-0 down inside 23 minutes thanks to a double from Fabian Bordagaray.

Tigre then had Cristian Lema sent off in the 77th minute and though it did pull one back two minutes later through Carlos Luna, it was not enough for it to challenge leader Estudiantes.

Banfield leapt of the foot of the table in some style with a 5-2 win at Olimpo, which replaced it at the bottom.

The host took the lead through Andres Franzoia in the fifth minute, but Adrian Reta levelled eight minutes after the break before pulling ahead with a double from Andres Chavez after the break.

Roberto Brum made it 4-1 in the 74th minute and, though Martin Guedes pulled one back three minutes later, Jonathan Gomez rounded off the scoring eight minutes from time.

Struggling Independiente got a welcome victory as it beat Atletico Rafaela 2-0 with goals from Facundo Parra in the 57th minute and Fabian Monserrat 10 minutes from time.

In the day's other game, Union Santa Fe opened the scoring through Jorge Velazquez in the 36th minute, but Ruben Ramirez levelled three minutes before the break to secure a 1-1 draw for Godoy Cruz.

Union held on for a point despite having Fausto Montero sent off in the 59th minute.

The game appeared to be drifting towards a goalless draw until Perez broke the deadlock from the penalty spot seven minutes before the end.

The result left Cordoba seventh in the table heading into the rest of the weekend's fixtures.

The game appeared to be drifting towards stalemate until Pellerano struck moments before the final whistle.

The result left Newell's one point ahead of its opponent and two behind Clausura leader Estudiantes.

Visitor Estudiantes went ahead with a fourth-minute penalty from Mauro Boselli, after a handball by Pablo Barzola, but was pegged back when Nicolas Berardo headed the home side level after 27 minutes.

Iberbia had the decisive say with a close-range finish in the 57th minute after a low centre from Matias Sanchez.

Leonardo Jara was dismissed seven minutes later but Estudiantes held on.

Estudiantes climbed above Tigre and Boca Juniors, who both stumbled in their seventh games of the championship.

Tigre was unbeaten with four wins from its opening six games but lost 1-0 away to Arsenal, with Guillermo Burdisso heading the only goal after 65 minutes. Tigre was down to 10 men by then, having lost Angel Diaz to a red card in the 38th minute.

Boca Juniors was held 2-2 at home by Lanus, letting a two-goal lead slip away.

It went ahead in the 40th minute with a fluke goal from Pablo Mouche who sent an inswinging cross over from the right and saw the ball sail inside the far post, embarrassing goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin.

Juan Pablo Riquelme doubled the lead two minutes later when his low half-volley found the bottom right corner.

But Lanus immediately cut into the two-goal advantage and scored when Mariano Pavone headed down and past Agustin Orion, before levelling in the 55th minute with another fine header, this time from Paolo Goltz.

Boca had Clemente Rodriguez sent off in the 63rd minute but did not lose another goal.

Colon Santa Fe made visitor Independiente suffer, posting a 3-0 win.

Ernesto Javier Chevanton opened the scoring after 43 minutes with a composed left-footed finish, before Ivan Moreno y Fabianesi doubled the home side's lead with a deflected strike in the 56th minute.

The ball skidded on the wet pitch and found the bottom right corner.

Lucas Mugni snatched the third goal five minutes later, a sweet strike to trump goalkeeper Diego Rodriguez, and Independiente finished with 10 men after substitute Cristian Pellerano was dismissed 11 minutes from the end.

Union surged forward from the kick-off and playmaker Paulo Rosales chipped the ball towards striker Diego Jara who had darted towards the penalty spot, but it was a touch from Martinez which proved decisive as the ball trickled over the line.

Jorge Velazquez doubled Union's lead in the 19th minute with a powerful finish high into the net from six yards after neat build-up, and it should have been 3-0 in the 43rd minute when the visitor was awarded a penalty.

Bologna swapped his duties at one end for spot-kick responsibilities, but his strike was saved by Diego Sebastian Saja.

However the home defence had encroached before the penalty was taken, so Bologna was handed another chance, only to thunder his shot yards over the crossbar.

Union did find a third goal four minutes into the second half as Jara headed in a cross from the right, before being reduced to 10 men when Juan Pablo Cardenas was dismissed after 55 minutes.

Racing was then handed a penalty in the 74th minute, but Teofilo Gutierrez missed the spot-kick twice, with Bologna defying him initially but being penalised for coming off his line, before the home striker missed the target.

Elsewhere, Atletico Rafaela won 2-1 at home against San Lorenzo, with goals from Fabricio Fontanini in the 39th minute and German Caceres in the 86th minute. San Lorenzo had taken a seventh-minute lead through Carlos Bueno.

Belgrano Cordoba was held 1-1 by San Martin San Juan in another incident-filled match.

Belgrano had Ribair Rodriguez sent off in the 48th minute, and when Christian Alvarez scored an 89th-minute penalty for the visitor it looked set to decide the outcome.

But there was a twist to come, and Claudio Perez confidently netted a stoppage-time penalty for Belgrano to secure a point.

The reward from the stalemate lifted Banfield one point ahead of Atletico Rafaela, who now has a game in hand.

All Boys stand sixth in the table, with one defeat in seven games, four of which it has drawn.

Unbeaten Tigre lead the Clausura.

Erviti struck 20 minutes from the end, leaving Boca a point behind leader Tigre.

Newell's Old Boys and Arsenal Sarandi also claimed 1-0 wins to maintain their respective good starts to the Clausura campaign.

Mauricio Sperdutti struck after 23 minutes for Newell's as it beat Atletico Rafaela, while Arsenal Sarandi saw off Banfield thanks to a goal from Jorge Ortiz in the eighth minute.

Ten-man Colon Santa Fe came from a goal down to claim a point in a 1-1 draw at San Lorenzo.

Colon had Esteban Fuertes sent off in the 32nd minute and it fell behind on the stroke of half-time thanks to Enzo Kalinski, but it levelled through Ariel Garce in the 68th minute.

Estudiantes, third in the table, went ahead through Mauro Boselli after 18 minutes but Diego Morales levelled from the spot 10 minutes later.

Second-placed Velez Sarsfield also drew, 3-3 at Union Santa Fe, meaning the top three remained as they were.

It could have been better for Velez as it threw away a 3-1 lead.

Rodrigo Erramuspe put Union ahead after 19 minutes, but Juan Manuel Martinez equalised with a penalty before goals either side of half-time from Ivan Bella and Federico Insua put the visitor in control.

Erramuspe, though, pulled one back after 65 minutes and Pablo Magnin equalised 10 minutes from time.

Independiente got its second win of the Clausura, but left it late as goals from Ernesto Farias and Fabian Monserrat in the 76th and 87th minutes saw it beat Belgrano Cordoba 2-0.

Ten-man Olimpo could not hold on as it slipped to a 3-0 home defeat against Racing Club.

Olimpo was up against it when Cristian Villanueva was sent off in just the 14th minute, but it clung on until the hour mark when it shot itself in the foot again, Federico Mancinelli scoring an own goal.

That seemed to demoralise the home side and Racing took advantage with further goals from Gabriel Hauche and Lucas Castroman.

Hernandez struck after 59 minutes to seal three points which took his side sixth, one point behind All Boys who was held to a 1-1 home draw by Godoy Cruz.

After a goalless first half, Mauro Matos opened the scoring for Old Boys two minutes into the second period, but substitute Facundo Castillon levelled in the 72nd minute.

Olimpo could have overtaken its host with three points, and it kept it tight until Bella struck in the 63rd minute.

The result left Velez two points off leader Tigre and five ahead of its opponent.

Boca overcame an early two-goal deficit to lead 4-3, only for Ernesto Farias to swing the match back in Independiente's favour by completing his hat-trick with two last-gaps goals.

Independiente headed into the match having lost all four of the previous games in the competition so far, but was two up within seven minutes through Patricio Vidal and Osmar Ferreyra.

Facundo Roncaglia halved the deficit for Boca after 13 minutes, but Farias' first goal of the night 20 minutes later re-established the visitor's two-goal cushion.

Joan Riquelme got Boca back in the game once more on the stroke of half-time, and the host looked to have the points in the bag when further goals from Roncaglia and Pablo Ledesma put it ahead for the first time with 15 minutes left.

However, Farias equalised in the 90th minute and then grabbed a dramatic winner deep in stoppage-time to condemn Boca to a first defeat of the campaign.

Tigre climbed to the top of the standings thanks to a 2-0 win at Banfield which put it three points ahead of third-placed Boca.

Two goals in the final six minutes proved the difference for Tigre, substitute Ezequiel Maggiolo breaking the deadlock before Carlos Luna made the points safe in stoppage-time.

Elsewhere, goals either side of the interval from Diego Jara and Pablo Daniel Magnin gave Union Santa Fe a 2-0 triumph at Atletico Rafaela, and Jorge Ortiz's seventh-minute strike earned Arsenal Sarandi a 1-0 win at Godoy Cruz.

Castroman put the host in control with two first-half strikes and the visitor's hopes of getting back in the game were dealt a blow on the hour mark when substitute Matias Perez Garcia was sent off. Castroman completed his treble 10 minutes from time.

Elsewhere, San Lorenzo joined opponent Belgrano Cordoba on seven points thanks to a 2-1 away win over the eighth-placed side.

Belgrano went ahead after 10 minutes through Matias Gimenez but the visitor turned the match on its head after the interval with goals from Pablo Alvarado and Nestor Ortigoza (penalty).

Finally, Argentinos Juniors and San Martin San Juan battled out a 1-1 draw, Gaston Caprari securing a point for the sixth-spotted visitor with a second-half equaliser after Cristian Grabinski's own goal had put the host ahead in the 26th minute.

Argentinos had Nereo Fernandez sent off 14 minutes from the end but held on for the draw.

Matias Sarulyte netted the game's only goal midway through the second half to send his side a point ahead of Boca Juniors and Tigre at the summit, albeit having played a game more.

Newell's Old Boys was a 3-0 winner at nine-man Colon Santa Fe.

Pablo Perez put the visiting team ahead on the stroke of half-time and late goals from substitute Martin Tonso (88) and Maximiliano Urruti (90) sealed the triumph after the home side had lost Ivan Moreno y Fabianesi and Gerardo Alcoba to red cards.

Andres Franzoia opened the scoring for the host in the 19th minute, only for Dario Gandin to get the visitor back on level terms from the penalty spot four minutes before half-time.

The match looked destined to end in a draw until Oscar Carniello fouled substitute Nicolas Pavlovich deep in stoppage-time, and Rolle coolly converted from 12 yards.

The result lifted Olimpo above its opponent and into eighth spot, having picked up six points from its first four games.

Juan Mino opened the scoring for Boca in the 58th minute, and substitute Pablo Mouche sealed the points four minutes from the end.

There was a twist in the tale, though, as Carlos Bueno and Gabriel Mendez of San Lorenzo and Boca's Juan Insaurralde were sent off just before full-time.

Tigre kept pace with a 1-0 win over Lanus thanks to a penalty in the third minute from Diego Morales.

Lanus had Mauro German Camoranesi dismissed four minutes from time.

Union came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Colon in the Santa Fe derby.

Ivan Moreno y Fabianesi scored after 22 minutes and again 10 minutes later, but half-time substitute Diego Jara began the comeback in the 62nd minute and Nicolas Correa equalised six minutes later.

The day's other game finished goalless between Arsenal Sarandi and Racing Club, which had Patricio Toranzo sent off in the 79th minute.

A point was enough to keep Velez at the summit of the Clausura standings, ahead of its opponent and Estudiantes, who joined the two sides on eight points with a 1-0 win at San Martin San Juan.

An own goal from Diego Sosa after 17 minutes was all that separated the teams.

Independiente lost again, going down 3-1 at home to Argentinos Juniors.

Goals from Nicolas Batista (nine), Fabian Bordagaray (45) and Pablo Barzola (62) made the points safe for the visitor before Roberto Battion pulled one back.

That was the first goal of the Clausura for Independiente, which is rock bottom with no points from four games.

Nestor Silvera opened the scoring in the 31st minute and Cesar Pereyra doubled the lead six minutes later.

Newell's had its misery compounded when Hernan Pellerano was sent off four minutes from time.

In the day's other game Hernan Lopez scored after 65 minutes, moments after stepping off the bench, to secure a 1-1 draw for Banfield against Godoy Cruz.

Alvaro Navarro had opened the scoring in the 12th minute for the visitor, who then had Leonardo Sigali sent off 17 minutes from the end.

Lanus had won both its previous matches, but it found itself a goal down through Caprari's 33rd-minute effort.

Sebastian Penco made it 2-0 in the 72nd minutes and Caprari bagged his second four minutes later, before substitute Cesar Carranza pulled one back for the host in the dying moments of the contest.

The result left both sides level on six points from three games in the Clausura table.

Velez has the honour of topping the nascent league table on goal difference after holding off Arsenal Sarandi's fightback to win 3-2.

Augusto Fernandez and Juan Manuel Martines struck within two first-half minutes, the latter from the penalty spot, and when Fernandez notched his second in the 62nd minute the match looked over.

But Emilio Zelaya and Luciano Leguizamon cut the deficit to one and Velez had to hang on for seven minutes plus stoppage-time before victory was secured.

Boca Juniors beat Newell's Old Boys by the same scoreline, Dario Cvitanovich scoring on the stroke of half-time before Juan Roman Riquelme made the game safe late on.

Tigre won 2-0 at Godoy Cruz after a dramatic finish to a match in which it took a first-half lead through Carlos Luna.

An incident in the 83rd minute saw both Godoy's Ruben Ramirez and Tigre Mariano Echeverria sent off before substitute Leandro Diaz grabbed a second three minutes later.

The victories leave all three teams on seven points, along with All Boys.

Banfield won 2-1 at Racing Club in the day's other game. Teofilo Gutierrez's early penalty gave Racing Club a lead which was quickly cancelled out by Andres Chavez's 12th-minute strike and, after Gutierrez was sent off with 10 minutes remaining, Banfield sub Hernan Lopez grabbed a last-minute winner.

Gaston Fernandez scored in the first-half and substitute Guido Carrillo made the game safe 11 minutes from time as Estudiantes followed up two draws with three points this time around.

San Lorenzo won 1-0 at Argentinos Juniors, Carlos Benitez with the only goal five minutes after half-time.

Both San Lorenzo and Colon Santa Fe also recorded their first wins of the season at the third time of asking, the latter beating Olimpo 3-1.

Federico Higuain's opener was almost immediately cancelled out by Andres Franzoia and it remained 1-1 until the 74th minute when substitute Ivan Moreno y Fabianesi restored Colon's lead. Esteban Fuertes added a third in the last minute.

Jose Santos Romero's side now have seven points from three games, having kept a third successive clean sheet and seen substitute Perez Garcia pop up in stoppage time to win the game.

Belgrano Cordoba also won 1-0, Lucas Parodi with the goal in the 67th minute against Union Santa Fe.

It left it late to take the three points, with substitue Mariano Pavone scoring two minutes from time, but it now sits ahead of Velez Sarsfield on goal difference.

Boca Juniors played out a 0-0 draw at Union Santa Fe, while San Lorenzo and Estudiantes drew 1-1.

Cristian Cellay scored for Estudiantes but was later sent off, conceding the second-half penalty that allowed Nestor Ortigoza to equalise.

Elsewhere, Godoy Cruz played an hour against Racing Club with 10 men after Juan Carlos Falcon was sent off, but won the game 1-0 with an 85th-minute winner from Leonardo Sigali.

It took an 11th-minute lead through Juan Ferreyra and, even though it had Martin Morel sent off, it sealed the win through Juan Rodriquez.

Elsewhere, Arsenal Sarandi and Atletico Rafaela played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Sarandi opened the scoring with a 15th-minute goal from Luciano Leguizamon, but Atletico levelled after the break through Alexis Castro.

Juan Pablo Caffa restored Sarandi`s lead from the spot, only for Dario Gandin - who was later sent off - to equalise from the spot himself.

In the day`s other game, Maximiliano Urruti`s goal earned Newell`s Old Boys a 1-0 win over Argentinos Juniors.

Federico Insua kicked things off with a 32nd-minute opener and Sebastian Dominguez added a second before the break.

It was all over when Mauro Obolo made it three and, when Roberto Brum was sent off (57) it was clear Banfield was beaten.

Ivan Bella then made it four to round off a fine night's work for the leader.

Olimpo was equally impressive, seeing off Belgrano Cordoba 4-1.

Grenddy Perozo put it ahead in the 20th minute, but Belgrano equalised through Cesar Manzanelli's penalty on the break. It then had Claudio Perez sent off and the floodgates opened after that, with a second-half brace from Andres Franzoia and a goal from Nestor Bareiro wrapping things up.

Boca is also among the favourites to take the Copa Libertadores, which it won four times between 2000 and 2007.

In short, the club that helped made Maradona famous is back on top and Falcioni is the toast of the Argentine capital.

Uhhh, not quite.

Falcioni is teetering on the edge of being fired - or being forced to resign - after a locker room run-in with team captain Juan Roman Riquelme this week after a scoreless draw at Venezuela club Zamora in the Copa Libertadores.

The next chapter of the saga comes on Sunday when Boca plays at Union Santa Fe in a league game.

Falcioni has brought a defensive, cautious style to Boca, whose rabid fans view the club as South America's version of Barcelona or Real Madrid - with one-tenth the payroll and little of the glitz.

Falcioni has also returned stability. When he was hired in December 2010, he was Boca's fifth coach in a year after Claudio Borghi, Alfio Basile, Abel Alves and Roberto Pompei.

"Boca is solid," said club forward Santiago Silva, who joined recently from Italian club Fiorentina.

"I like how the team plays. You can't question a team that has gone 30 matches without losing."

At Boca Juniors, the fans can - and do.

It's a reminder of Vicente Del Bosque, who coached Real Madrid to two league titles and two UEFA Champions League titles in four years, and then left in 2003 when Real Madrid refused to renew his contract.

The dressing room confrontation in Venezuela seems to have undermined Falcioni, opening an avenue for players who were unhappy with his game tactics to complain.

Riquelme, a favourite of Boca fans, is widely reported to have a frosty relationship with Falcioni. An artistic but temperamental midfielder, Riquelme has had his own problems getting along with team-mates including retired Boca forward Martin Palermo.

According to various versions, Falcioni became upset in Venezuela when he sensed that forward Dario Cvitanich was not following his directives but rather the on-pitch directions of Riquelme.

Angry at Riquelme, Falcioni reportedly told him after the match: "When you're a coach, your team can play the way you want. But here I make the decisions."

In the two days following, Falcioni offered to step aside, then apologised to the team and personally to Riquelme, Cvitanich and several other key players.

"Falcioni asks for forgiveness and now the wait to see if calm returns," Argentina newspaper Clarin wrote in a Friday headline.

Club president Daniel Angelici termed it just "a misunderstanding," though sports talk shows in Argentina say it goes much deeper, with many fans suggesting Falcioni could be gone in days.

"It will not be easy to get out of this," club vice president Juan Carlos Crespi said in an interview. "But with the goodwill of everyone, it can be overcome."

Maybe only as long as Boca keeps winning.

It was announced last week that the country's domestic league will be known as the Crucero General Belgrano First Division.

FIFA, the game's world governing body, has now written to the Argentina FA for clarification and pointed out the rules.

A FIFA statement read: "FIFA have contacted the Argentinian FA (AFA) with regards to a potential change of name of the Liga de Primera Division. According to media reports, the league was set to be named after 'Crucero General Belgrano'.

"FIFA has requested the AFA to provide further information on this matter, and reminded the AFA of Art. 3 of the FIFA Statutes which prohibits any kind of discrimination against a country, private person or group of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, politics or any other reason.

"A potential change of name of the Liga de Primera Division would clearly infringe the above mentioned article and could be sanctioned in accordance with the FIFA Statutes."

The General Belgrano was sunk by a Royal Navy submarine with the loss of 323 Argentine lives in 1982.

Chances were sparse throughout and, even when Colon had Adrian Bastia and Esteban Fuertes both sent off inside the final two minutes, little changed.

Both sides are mid-table in the embryonic standings, with only four teams having won their first game.

The visitors had Fausto Montero sent off after 63 minutes but held out for nearly half an hour to earn a draw.

A point apiece left Argentinos 10th in the fledgling table and Union 14th.

To make matters worse for the visitor it had Matias De Federico sent off in stoppage time.

Mauro Boselli scored a penalty as Estudiantes drew 1-1 with Newell's Old Boys whose goal was scored by Maximiliano Urruti.

The game between Belgrano Cordoba and All Boys finished 0-0.

The season, which begins on Friday, will be the known as the first division 'Crucero General Belgrano', or Cruiser General Belgrano in English.

Argentina lost 649 servicemen in the war, 323 of whom were crew members on the Belgrano.

The Argentine government owns the rights to Argentine first division matches and shows all the games on free-to-air television.

Advertising time during the matches is often used to promote the accomplishments of the Argentine government, which says the islands it calls 'Las Islas Malvinas' belong to Argentina.

The 30th anniversary of the start of the 10-week war is 2 April.

The Argentine government has been angered by the arrival in the Falklands last week of Prince William, second in line to the British throne.

The prince, known in the British defence forces as Flight Lt Wales, has been deployed to the islands for six weeks as a search and rescue pilot.

The British government says it's a routine deployment. Argentina has called it provocative.

"I want to be a champion," said 68-year-old Basile, who had two spells in charge of Argentina from 1991-1994 and 2006-2008.

Racing Club was runner-up behind Boca Juniors in the Argentina championship which concluded two weeks ago.

Basile, a former central defender, played for Racing from 1964-1970, winning the league title in 1966 and the Copa Libertadores in 1967.

Her also coached Racing in 1978, 1986-1898 and 1996-1997.

Pumpido replaces Uruguayan coach Jorge Da Silva and will lead the Mendoza-based club in the Argentinian Clausura and Copa Libertadores, according to a club statement.

Pumpido, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 1986, has coached previously in Argentina with Union de Santa Fe and Newell's Old Boys, and had spells in Mexico with UANL Tigres and in Paraguay with Olimpia.

He won the Libertadores as coach, South America's top club competition, with Olimpia in 2002.

Godoy Cruz says Pumpido will start pre-season work on January 4.

Simeone, who played more than 100 internationals for Argentina, took Racing Club to second place behind Boca Juniors in the past Apertura tournament.

Racing vice-president Rodolfo Molina confirmed on Tuesday in an interview with Argentine radio station La Red that Simeone had stepped down.

Simeone has been touted as a possible successor to Gregorio Manzano at Atletico, one of his former clubs. Manzano is under pressure after a string of bad results.

Before taking charge for a second stint at Racing, Simeone had won Argentine titles at Estudiantes and River Plate and also had a period in charge of Italian club Catania.

The 34-year-old will complete his move this week before returning to the United Arab Emirates to conclude some issues after his short stay with Bani Yas, according to the Argentinian club's official website.

Trezeguet will then be presented on 4 January.

Boca extended its unbeaten run to 29 games stretching into last season as it edged out lowly All Boys, hardly having it all its own way as Dario Cvitanich got the goal 11 minutes from time despite Boca having already played half-an-hour against 10 men after the dismissal of Juan Rodriguez early in the second half.

Belgrano Cordoba sits third after seeing off Arsenal Sarandi 1-0 thanks to a 13th-minute strike from Franco Vazquez.

Juan Sebastian Veron's decision to postpone his retirement for another six months did not prevent a standing ovation for the veteran midfielder at the end of Estudiantes' 2-0 victory over Union Santa Fe, which came courtesy of goals either side of half-time from Mauro Boselli and Cristian Cellay.

Santiago Naguel scored moments after coming on as a substitute to give Argentinos Juniors a 1-0 win over Olimpo.

The 36-year-old Veron, who announced months ago he was ready to retire, said he was staying after pressure from his team-mates.

His announcement means he will playing during the upcoming Clausura season, which opens early 2012 and ends in June.

David Ramirez opened the scoring on the half-hour mark and Augusto Fernandez doubled the advantage four minutes later to put the visitor in control.

Diego Morales got Tigre back in it two minutes before half-time, but Guillermo Franco's 61st-minute goal made sure of the win for Velez.

Lanus now leads a four-way tie on 28 points, with Belgrano Cordoba joining the battle with a 2-0 win away to Banfield.

Cesar Pereyra got both goals inside the opening 25 minutes and Banfield's misery was completed by a 71st-minute red card for Jonathan Gomez.

Colon Santa Fe is the fourth team on 28 points, one above Tigre.

Substitute Martin Benitez struck in the 57th minute to give Independiente a 1-0 away win over San Lorenzo, while Newell's Old Boys and San Martin San Juan played out a 0-0 draw.

Boca took the lead through Walter Erviti five minutes before the break, but just seconds into the second period, Guillermo Burdisso had brought the host level and it then led through Mauro Obolo's 54th minute strike.

Cristian Chavez rescued a draw for Boca 20 minutes from time.

Federico Higuain struck in the 46th minute to give Colon Santa Fe a 1-0 win away to Godoy Cruz, moving them up to fourth place, level on points with third-placed Lanus.

Teofilo Gutierrez got the only goal from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half to keep Racing three points above Lanus, who also enjoyed a victory, winning 1-0 away to Union Santa Fe.

Matias Fritzler got the goal after 15 minutes, and any hopes Union had of finding an equaliser were dealt a major blow when Jeronimo Barrales was sent off for a second bookable offence two minutes into the second half.

All Boys beat Argentinos Juniors 1-0 to leapfrog it in the table and move away from the danger zone.

Martin Zapata struck in the 13th minute and the visitor then had Nicolas Berardo sent off for a second booking 20 minutes from time.

Olimpo and Estudiantes shared the points from a 0-0 draw.

Arce scored after just two minutes to give the host its fifth win of a tough season, pulling it eight points clear of the foot of the table.

Tigre remains third, one point behind Racing Club and 12 adrift of leader Boca Juniors.

Needing just a point to be sure of finishing top, Boca put the league's bottom side to the sword to take the title with two games to spare.

Cvitanich put it ahead in the 11th minute after a scramble in the Banfield goalmouth.

His decisive strike into the bottom left corner from six yards was the fourth attempt on goal in the space of seconds.

Cvitanich put Boca 2-0 clear a minute before half-time when his volley from 12 yards took a helpful deflection to go just out of reach of Banfield goalkeeper Cristian Lucchetti, finding the bottom right corner.

It was 3-0 inside two minutes of the second half as Diego Rivero scored the outstanding goal of the game, a 30-yard drive into the top left corner.

Victory lifts Boca 11 points clear of second-placed Racing Club with two games remaining.

Tigre was the only team who could theoretically catch Boca heading into the weekend, as it trailed the leader by nine points with three games to play. But Boca's win takes it 12 clear of Tigre, ending that remote chance.

Towards the bottom of the table, Independiente and Newell's Old Boys battled out a 1-1 draw, with Pablo Perez putting visitor Newell's ahead after 18 minutes and Martin Benitez levelling in the 51st minute.

Godoy Cruz came from behind with 10 men to draw 1-1 away to Belgrano Cordoba.

Nicolas Olmedo was sent off after 24 minutes for Godoy Cruz, and it fell behind in the 55th minute when Cesar Manzanelli netted, but Ruben Ramirez managed an equaliser two minutes later.

Racing won 2-0, with Claudio Yacob volleying it in front from 16 yards in the 31st minute before Valentin Viola doubled the lead after 57 minutes with a fierce shot across goalkeeper Diego Pozo.

Colon Santa Fe was the first team to lose a man, with striker Ernesto Chevanton dismissed after 64 minutes, but Racing then had Yacob sent off in the 78th minute and Matias Martinez followed him six minutes later.

The victory lifted Racing to second, one point ahead of Tigre who has a game in hand.

Tigre is the only team who can deny Boca Juniors the Apertura title, however it trails the leader by nine points with three games remaining.

Boca Juniors can clinch the title on Monday (AEDT) by avoiding defeat against the league's bottom team Banfield.

Atletico Rafaela was a 2-0 winner at home against Velez Sarsfield and climb to fourth place, with its goals coming in the second minute from Alexis Castro and in the 87th minute from Sebastian Carrera.

Between the goals, Velez was reduced to nine men by red cards for Sebastian Dominguez and Emiliano Papa.

Lanus and Olimpo drew 0-0, while San Martin San Juan was a 2-0 victor on home turf against Union Santa Fe, Sebastian Penco opening the scoring in the 44th minute and Mauro Bogado adding a second after 58 minutes.

Mariano Gonzalez, Gaston Fernandez and Mauro Boselli scored the goals in the success which lifts Estudiantes from a share of second-bottom in the table up to 15th in the 20-team league.

Gonzalez drilled in a thrilling opening goal in the 30th minute, firing high into the top left corner from 25 yards after a free-kick from the right flank was played short into his path.

Fernandez flicked in the second after a slick team move three minutes later, and Boselli showed an assured touch after a deflected cross found him for the third goal in the 61st minute.

Estudiantes now stands two points behind All Boys, who is 14th.

Argentinos Juniors is a point better off than All Boys after a 2-1 win over Arsenal Sarandi, a match which both teams finished a player short.

Adrian Gonzalez put Arsenal ahead after 18 minutes, but Santiago Salcedo netted a 31st-minute leveller.

Federico Pistone was the first to see red, dismissed after 67 minutes to leave Argentinos Juniors depleted, but Arsenal also lost Lisandro Lopez with three minutes remaining.

Salcedo had the final say with a 90th-minute winner.

Santa Fe stands sixth in the 20-team league, with Independiente struggling in 12th place, after the 0-0 draw at the Estadio 15 de Abril.

Unbeaten Boca Juniors is on the brink of clinching the championship, requiring just one from its remaining three games.

Dario Cvitanich opened the scoring after 10 minutes before a 37th-minute Rolando Schiavi gave Boca breathing space.

Godoy Cruz pulled a goal back with just four minutes remaining, through Ariel Rojas, as Boca pulled nine points clear at the top.

Velez Sarfield and Colon Santa Fe drew 1-1 to join Racing Club in a three-way tie for third.

Leandro Velazquez scored first for Velez after 20 minutes before Ernesto Javier Chevanton scored immediately after coming on at half-time.

Estudiantes climbed off the foot of the table as it rallied from behind to win 2-1 at Arsenal Sarandi.

The host had led through Mauro Obolo (21) but Estudiantes battled back for just its third win thanks to strikes from Gaston Fernandez (56) and Juan Veron (80).

Estudiantes' win meant Banfield slipped into last place after it conceded an injury-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Argentinos Juniors.

Santiago Salcedo Gonzalez broke Banfield's hearts with a late equaliser in a stormy end that saw Jorge Achucarro and Miguel Torren sent off for either side.

Banfield looked like getting a much needed win when, after going behind to a Fabian Bordagaray goal (26), it forged ahead through Jonathan Gomes (56) and Facundo Ferreira (86).

Cesar Pereyra's first-half double inspired the visitor to a win that moves it sixth, and just a point behind Racing.

All of Belgrano's goals came before the break with Gaston Turus also on target to ensure it assumed control at half-time despite Giovanni Moreno responding for Racing.

Belgrano's hold on the game loosened, however, when Ribair Rodriguez was sent off on 67 minutes and Valentin Viola scored a minute later.

But Racing could not summons an equaliser as the game ended with Gabriel Hauche and Juan Quiroga being given their marching orders.

Gaston Caprari scored twice as San Martin San Juan thumped Olimpo 3-0.

Caprari scored either side of a 34th-minute Mauro Bogado penalty.

Struggling Newell's Old Boys could only manage a goalless home draw against San Lorenzo while the contest between All Boys and Lanus also ended without a goal.

Guillermo Burdisso scored the only goal of the game on 20 minutes to move Arsenal level on points with its seventh-placed rival.

Arsenal has now gone unbeaten in eight away games to start the season.

The draw takes Boca to 33 competition points from 15 matches, with Racing in second place on 25.

Boca has four matches to play and could clinch the Apertura title in its next match, when it faces Godoy Cruz.

Racing played with 10 men after Agustin Pellettieri was sent off for his second booking in the 50th minute.

Racing then went down to nine when Teofilo Gutierrez was red-carded in the 77th.

Union defeated San Lorenzo 1-0 and Colon defeated Rafaela 1-0.

First-half goals from Ivan Bella and Guillermo Franco put the visitor in control and, although Franco Vazquez briefly gave the host hope by halving the deficit in the 70th minute, substitute Ezequiel Rescaldani soon restored Velez's two-goal cushion.

Elsewhere, Independiente cruised past Olimpo 3-0 to move up to 12th.

Eduardo Tuzzio, Ivan Perez and Facundo Parra were the men on target, with Damian Musto's 70th-minute red card not helping the Olimpo cause.

Finally, Argentinos Juniors picked up its third win of the season, 1-0 at home to Godoy Cruz, to climb to 16th. Gustavo Oberman netted the game's only goal seven minutes before half-time.

Carlos Casteglione netted the game's only goal for the visitor eight minutes before half-time.

The result moved Tigre eight points behind leader Boca Juniors, who hosts second-placed Racing Club on Monday (AEDT), and left Newell's fourth from bottom.

In the day's other game, San Martin San Juan and All Boys battled out a goalless draw.

The host was always up against it once Emmanuel Gigliotti picked up his second yellow card in only the 31st minute.

And Jonathan Bottinelli's own goal seven minutes after that ultimately proved decisive.

Opponent Velez Sarsfield had lost three of its previous six home matches but it held out for a goalless draw.

The point earned by Boca extended its lead at the top of the table to eight points.

Lanus came from behind to win at bottom club Banfield and move up to third in the table.

Paolo Goltz's seventh-minute own goal gave the home side the lead but Mariano Pavone and Carlos Izquierdoz scored to turn things around by half-time - and 2-1 was how it stayed.

Enrique Bologna's 87th-minute penalty gave Union Santa Fe a 2-1 home win over Newell's Old Boys.

Jeronimo Barrales opened the scoring for Union in the 49th minute, before substitute Martin Tonso equalised 13 minutes from time.

Giovanni Moreno got the only goal of the game 10 minutes into the second half to move Racing back above Atletico Rafaela.

Tigre moved up to fourth with a 2-1 defeat of Colon Santa Fe.

Carlos Luna opened the scoring in the 37th minute and substitute Javier Carrasco doubled the advantage in the 74th minute.

Although Ivan Moreno y Fabianesi pulled a goal back immediately, the visitor was unable to find an equaliser.

Olimpo and San Lorenzo drew 1-1. Enzo Kalinski gave the visitor a fourth-minute lead but it had Juan Salgueiro sent off in the 32nd minute and Julio Cesar Furch equalised 17 minutes from time for Olimpo.

Second-placed Atletico could have closed the gap on runaway leader Boca Juniors to six points with a victory but a goalless draw means it is eight points off the pace, two fewer than fourth-placed Belgrano.

Belgrano played for half an hour with 10 men, after having Ribair Rodriguez sent off - but it held out for a point.

All Boys twice came from behind to deny Independiente.

Matias De Federico opened the scoring for the visitor after 10 minutes but Mauro Matos netted the first of his two goals nine minutes later.

Ivan Perez restored Independiente's lead nine minutes into the second half but Matos was on target again seven minutes later.

Olimpo and San Lorenzo also shared the points after a 1-1 draw. Enzo Kalinski gave the visitor a fourth-minute lead but it had Juan Salgueiro sent off in the 32nd minute and Julio Cesar Furch made Olimpo's numerical advantage pay off with the 73rd-minute equaliser.

Gaston Caprari opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Sebastian Penco doubled the home side's advantage from the penalty spot seven minutes before half-time.

Although Jonathan Gomez pulled a goal back three minutes from the end, it could not prevent Banfield slipping to the bottom of the table.

Estudiantes moved off the foot with a goalless draw against third-placed Racing Club, whose unbeaten record remains after a ninth draw in 13 games.

Rodrigo was dismissed for the home side after half-an-hour but the numbers were evened up nine minutes from time when Lucas Aveldano saw red.

Union Santa Fe and Tigre drew 1-1. Javier Carrasco gave the visitor the lead with 21 minutes to go but Juan Avendano levelled for Union four minutes later, before Tigre had Roman Martinez sent off four minutes from time.

With its title credentials expected to be given a stern test, Julio Cesar Falcioni's side had the game under control inside 17 minutes thanks to a brace from Nicolas Blandi.

Cristian Chavez then capped things off, before Alexis Castro's late consolation.

Colon Santa Fe is now a point behind Atletico after its 1-0 win at Belgrano Cordoba, given to it by Esteban Fuertes' 80th-minute penalty.

Lanus is fifth after a 2-1 win over Godoy Cruz.

Paolo Goltz put it ahead and, after Guido Pizarro put through his own net, Mario Regueiro won it with nine minutes left.

Santiago Salcedo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time and an own goal from Sebastian Dominquez then put the home side in total command.

Guillermo Franco gave Sarsfield hope but, Marcelo Barovero was sent off and Salcedo added a penalty to douse their enthusiasm.

Fernando Tobio was then sent off in the last minute, ensuring Velez ended with nine men.

Elsewhere, Newell`s Old Boys drew 2-2 with Olimpo.

Santiago Vergini`s penalty put Old Boys ahead and Maximiliano Urruti made it two, only for Martin Rolle and Adrian Lucero to pull Olimpo level.

Indipendiente`s game with Arsenal Sarandi ended goalless.

On a temperamental night in Avellaneda, Lanus took a 20th-minute lead through Diego Valeri`s penalty, before both sides went down to 10 men in the 32nd minute when the combustible Mauro Camoranesi (Lanus) and Patricio Toranzo (Racing) squared-up.

Things calmed down and Gabriel Hauche levelled just shy of the hour, before Lanus was forced to defend for 30 minutes with nine men after Carlos Izquierdoz received his marching orders.

Belgrano Cordoba is level on points with Racing Club and a place behind in fourth after a 1-0 win at Tigre.

Federico Mancuello did the damage as early as the sixth minute.

Godoy Cruz and San Martin San Juan shared four goals in a 2-2 draw.

Sebastian Penco gave San Martin the lead on the stroke of half-time, only for Ruben Ramirez to level four minutes after it.

Raul Saavedra restored the visitors` lead, only for Ramirez to strike again seven minutes from time.

Blandi struck in the 14th and 62nd minutes for Julio Cesar Falcioni`s men, who are six points clear at the top of the table.

A 3-1 win over Argentinos Juniors allowed Atletico Rafaela to stay in touching distance in second.

Diego Gandin got Argentinos going with a sixth-minute penalty and Federico Gonzalez doubled the lead in the 20th minute.

It was three before the break thanks to Oscar Carniello and it looked as though the goals would continue to flow when Juniors had Emilio Hernandez sent off before the break.

But Rafaela pulled a goal back through Gustavo Oberman and kept the scoreline respectable.

Velez Sarsfield moved into third place on the table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Estudiantes.

David Ramirez got the goal after just the seventh minute, with the side then holding out to secure a sixth win of the campaign.

Adrian Gonzalez scored the only goal of the game 15 minutes from time as Arsenal Sarandi beat San Lorenzo 1-0.

Ricardo La Volpe's men scored all their goals in the second half at Estadio Florencia Sola, with Facundo Ferreira's brace supported by a last-minute effort from Walter Acevedo.

That did not tell the full story, though, as Independiente had to play an hour with 10 men following Julian Velazquez's first-half dismissal for handball.

Elsewhere, Juan Avendano's 60th-minute goal moved Union Santa Fe into the top eight as it beat Olimpo 1-0, while All Boys drew 1-1 at home to Newell's Old Boys.

All Boys had Hugo Barrientos sent off for two yellow cards inside a minute, but still took a 33rd-minute lead through Juan Rodriquez.

But Fabian Munoz levelled in first-half injury time to earn Old Boys a point.

Boca had been expected to take three points from the clash despite Belgrano's current sixth-placed position but the visitor proved more than a match for the Buenos Aires giant.

Third-placed Atletico Rafaela saw the form book thrown out as it went down 3-0 against Estudiantes in La Plata.

Gaston Fernandez scored in the 23rd and 73rd minutes, either side of strike partner Mauro Boselli's contribution in the 61st.

Lanus lost 2-1 at home to Velez Sarsfield as Fernando Ortiz smashed a winner three minutes from time.

Argentinos Juniors drew 0-0 at home to Colon in a match which saw both sides reduced to 10 men in the 12th minute.

La Academia was eyeing the chance to close the gap on leader Boca Juniors - albeit having played a game more than their rivals - but instead were held at San Martin and had to settle for a point.

That point takes it level on points with Atletico Rafaela in second, ahead on goal difference but having played a game more.

Independiente moved within two points of seventh-placed Godoy Cruz with a 2-1 win over them at the Estadio Libertadores de America.

Leonel Nunez put the home side in front four minutes into the second period before Ruben Ramirez (63) drew Godoy Cruz level. The winner came from substitute Marco Perez in the last minute.

San Lorenzo is just behind Independiente, also on 11 points, thanks to a 1-0 win over Banfield secured by Juan Salgueiro's 72nd-minute goal.

The day's other game between Union Santa Fe and All Boys finished 1-1. Union, playing at home, fell behind to a Fernando Sanchez goal in the eighth minute but struck level through Paulo Rosales' 32nd-minute penalty.

Hosts Olimpo had gone in front in the 73rd minute through substitute Arturo Aquino. However, Carrasco, also on from the bench, found the equaliser with 10 minutes to go.

In the day's other match, Juan Salgueiro struck in the 72nd minute to give San Lorenzo a 1-0 win at home to Banfield.

Leonardo Sigali opened the scoring five minutes before half-time with Ruben Ramirez sealing victory in the 61st minute.

While Boca Juniors is five points clear at the top of the table, victory takes Godoy Cruz to within three points of Atletico Raffaela in second.

Arsenal Sarandi moved into mid-table when it came from 1-0 down to record a 2-1 win over Union Santa Fe.

Paulo Rosales put the visitor ahead with a seventh-minute penalty only for Christian Trombetta to equalise 13 minutes later.

Mauro Obolo then scored the winning goal with nine minutes left.

Banfield climbed off the bottom of the table as it claimed just its second win of the season, beating Newell's Old Boys 2-0.

Facundo Ferreira scored both goals, putting the host ahead in the 54th minute before sealing victory 17 minutes from time.

Boca defeated Tigre 1-0 on the weekend, and on Monday the headline in the daily La Nacion asked: "Who can stop Boca?"

Responsible for the turnaround is coach Julio Cesar Falcioni, who took over 10 months ago and has met the expectations of some of football's most demanding fans.

When Falcioni took charge, Boca had just completed the 2010 Apertura season with just 25 points from 19 matches.

A year later in the 2011 Apertura season, Boca has 24 points in just 10 matches.

The 55-year-old Falcioni seems to have a permanent frown, a contrast to the boyish shock of brown hair that he's often brushing off his forehead.

He won the 2009 Apertura title with Banfield, the first Argentine league title in the modest club's 113-year history.

This season, Banfield is last.

Falcioni has brought stability to Boca, after Claudio Borghi who was there for only seven months before stepping down and eventually taking over Chile's national team. Prior to Borghi, Boca had four coaches in four months - and not much success.

The chaos took a toll. The Buenos Aires club was a dominant force in South America between 2000 and 2008, when it won four Copa Libertadores titles in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2007.

Boca has also won the Argentine league title 23 times, 10 fewer than arch-rival River Plate.

"Fans are happier now than they have been in a long time," Boca's playmaking midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme said.

Riquelme is another reason why.

The former Barcelona player is going through a revival. After being shunned by the national team under then-coach Diego Maradona, Riquelme is in a position to be a key player on the squad of new coach Alejandro Sabella.

A left knee injury is likely to keep him out of upcoming qualifiers against Chile and Venezuela, but a role seems almost certain.

"Roman is always capable of being called up," Falcioni said.

Boca has also benefited from the retirement of striker Martin Palermo. A record goalscorer with the club, Palermo was largely an aerial threat. Without him, Boca is keeping more possession and passing the ball on the ground.

Boca is also better at the back, with only two goals allowed in 10 matches.

The Xeneizes - a nickname linked to the club's founding by Italian immigrants - have a five-point lead over second-place Rafaela after 10 rounds.

Boca faces Rafaela in the 13th round and has tough matches remaining with Racing Club, Colon and Belgrano. All three are within striking distance of Boca.

"We are only thinking about ourselves," Falcioni said. "We are not looking at what the others (teams) do, or don't do."

An own goal by Tigre's Diego Castano after 14 minutes settled the issue.

Julio Cesar Furch and Andres Franzoia scored as Olimpo won 2-1 at All Boys which scored through Mauro Matos.

Racing Club's Gabriel Hauche scored in the first minute but Facundo Parra equalised before half-time to ensure a 1-1 draw for Independiente.

Colon Santa Fe drew 1-1 with Estudiantes with Rodrigo Brana netting for the former on the stroke of half-time but Federico Higuain (59) making sure the points were shared.

Atletico, level on points with its opponent at the start of play, was a goal down when Mario Regueiro scored after 19 minutes, but Lanus threw the game away in a crazy eight-minute spell in the second half.

Fabricio Fontanini levelled after 51 minutes, Regueiro was dismissed two minutes later, Federico Gonzalez completed the turnaround in the 55th minute and Carlos Izquierdoz saw red three minutes after that.

In the day's other game, Ezequiel Rescaldani's second-half strike saw Velez Sarsfield beat San Martin San Juan 1-0.

Lanus had taken the lead through Mario Regueiro after 19 minutes but Fabricio Fontanini levelled (51) before Regueiro was sent off two minutes later.

Federico Gonzalez put Atletico ahead two minutes later before Carlos Izquierdoz was shown a red card three minutes after that.

Ezequiel Rescaldani got the only goal as Velez Sarsfield beat San Martin San Juan 1-0.

Juan Jose Morales gave the visitor an early lead and Roberto Brum made it 2-0 just before the hour.

Frederico Almeraes scored with 25 minutes to go but Belgrano, which could have gone second with a win, failed to find an equaliser.

Victor Aqunio had given Newell's the lead after 36 minutes but Castillon ensured the points were shared when he scored just before the hour.

Second-placed Racing Club failed to take advantage as it was also unable to find the target in a stalemate with San Lorenzo.

Tigre remains third, five points off the top, after a 1-1 draw against All Boys.

The host needed a late goal from Roman Martinez (87) to avoid defeat, however, after trailing to Mauro Matos' strike before the the half-time whistle.

Belgrano Cordoba joined Tigre on 16 points with a 3-2 victory at Estudiantes.

The visitor took the lead after 10 minutes through Guillermo Farre, although it then lost its goalscorer to a 25th-minute red card.

A penalty from Cesar Manzanelli (44) doubled the advantage before Juan Veron pulled a goal back after 71 minutes also from the spot.

Hernan Grana's 76th-minute strike restored Belgrano's two-goal lead, with Duvan Zalata's goal (89) coming too late for Estudiantes.

Jonathan Ramirez found the mark after 34 minutes to earn Velez Sarsfield a 1-0 victory at Independiente.

Although the visitor took the lead through Dario Gandin after just 10 minutes, San Martin hit back in the second half with Lucas Landa (53) equalising and Raul Saavedra adding another six minutes from time - moments after coming off the bench.

Defeat leaves Atletico four points behind leader Boca Juniors, which has a game in hand.

In the day's other match, Martin Rolle scored twice in three minutes to secure a 2-2 draw for Olimpo at home to Arsenal Sarandi.

Lisandro Lopez fired the visitor in front six minutes before the interval and Emilio Zelaya extended the lead two minutes into the second half.

But Rolle's goals in the 74th and 77th minutes earned Olimpo a share of the spoils, although it remains three places off the foot of the table.

Clemente Rodriguez's goal after 17 minutes was all that separated the two sides, while Estudiantes finished the match with 10 men following the last-minute dismissal of Matias Sanchez.

The win gives Boca breathing space over nearest challenger, Racing Club.

Tigre climbed to fifth with a 1-0 win at Argentinos Juniors, courtesy of a Carlos Luna goal 10 minutes into the second half.

Pablo Barzola was sent off for Argentinos 19 minutes from time.

A late goal from Armando Cooper earned Godoy Cruz a 1-1 draw against Union Santa Fe.

The visiting side led through a 63rd-minute goal from Rodrigo Erramuspe until Cooper's equaliser seven minutes from time.

Two goals in as many minutes from Leonel Nunez (21) and Brian Nieva (22) put the visitor in the driving seat and, although Alexis Castro halved the deficit after 62 minutes, a last-minute goal from Osmar Ferreyra made sure of the win.

Atletico remains one point behind leader Boca Juniors and has been joined on 16 points by Racing Club, which was a 1-0 winner over Newell's Old Boys thanks to Teofilo Gutierrez's seventh-minute strike.

Lanus was held to a goalless draw at Belgrano Cordoba and lies fourth, a point further back.

A last-gasp goal from Juan Salgueiro snatched a 2-1 victory for San Lorenzo at Velez Sarsfield.

The home side went in front after 37 minutes through Augusto Fernandez, but Enzo Kalinski equalised four minutes after the interval before substitute Salgueiro completed the comeback.