Viva La Boca

Last August during TSA's perambulations around South America, we stopped in on La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, home, of course, of Boca Juniors. Unfortunately the visit was as well timed as a Paul Scholes tackle, given that the new season was over a week away, so we didn't get to see the ground in its full matchday pomp, when, it is said, the crumbly old stands shake with the force of the supporters enthusiasm.

The season that followed was a successful one for Boca, winning the 2006 'Clausura' title, which is the half of the domestic league played in the latter part of the year and which determines progression to the Copa Libertadores. Boca have reached the final of that tournament (the South American equivalent of the Champions League) and look in a good position to win it for a sixth time, having defeated Gremio of Brazil 3-0 in last night's first leg at La Bombonera.

As you can see, one Juan Roman Riquelme is proving as influential as ever in his on-loan return to his former club.