Chilean league-leaders Audax Italiano have quoted a price of five million Euros for any clubs interested in signing star midfielder Carlos Villanueva.
The playmaker impressed during Audax's performances in the Copa Libertadores this year and has caught the attention of River Plate, who are said to be keen admirers of his talent.
The price put on his head by Audax may put River out of the running, but many European clubs are also thought to be interested in the 21 year old.
08 October 2007
Danubio striker Cristian Stuani scored a remarkable third hat-trick in four games but his celebrations were cut short when the match at home to Penarol was called off in the 62nd minute with his team 3-1 ahead.
Referee Jorge Larrionda halted play when linesman Mauricio Espinosa suffered a cut on the head and was carried off after being hit by a stone thrown from the terraces.
Rival fans then clashed and police waded in.
Stuani, who also notched hat-tricks against Central Espanol and River Plate, headed Danubio in front after 10 minutes and scored from a controversial penalty four minutes later.
Julio Mozzo pulled one back but Stuani struck again just before the game was abandoned.
Danubio are fourth in the Apertura with 14 points from eight games, but will go second if they are awarded the points from the game.
Surprise leaders Rampla Juniors beat Nacional 1-0 to stay top.
08 October 2007
Underdog River Plate upset Boca Juniors 2-0 Sunday in Argentina's biggest soccer rivalry, winning with goals by Radamel Falcao and Ariel Ortega in the "superclasico" showdown.
Falaco scored in the 23rd minute and Ortega 10 minutes later off a penalty kick in front of 50,000 mostly River fans at the Monumental stadium in the Argentine capital.
The crosstown rivalry is the biggest in Argentina and, with heavy favorite Boca losing in the 13th Apertura round, frontrunner Independiente kept sole possession of first place with 25 points.
Boca remained two points back, while River jumped to 19 points in a bid to leave behind a long slump that saw the team spend weeks midway back in the first-division pack.
In 180 matches overall, Boca has won 64 of the encounters and River 60, with 56 draws.
Boca entered the match as heavy favorite but River found its groove early by attacking from the opening minutes, leaving no chance for a Boca counterattack - what River coach Daniel Passarella had promised would be an "ultra-offensive" match.
In the 23rd minute, River's Fernando Belluschi kicked a searing shot that rocketed off the bar and Falcao then took the loose ball and left-footed it into the goal past Boca goalkeeper Mauricio Caranta.
Five minutes later, Ortega stepped up pressure on Boca with a free kick that Caranta just managed to save.
Then, when Boca's Gabriel Paletta fouled Boca player Diego Buonanotte in the 31st minute, Ortega got the first of two penalty kick chances.
Caranta blocked the opening kick, but referee Hector Baldassi ordered a second chance for Ortega due to infringements by Boca players and Ortega scored.
Ever Banega was expelled in the final minute of the first period and Boca was forced to play one man and two goals down. While Boca seemed to threaten a few times in the second half, River kept its lead for victory.
Only six rounds remain in the Apertura season, leaving River in its best position yet in this year's title fight. For Boca, the loss to River was its fourth of the season.
