Revisiting the Superclásico: a story of death, violence, colour and family

Attending Boca v River in the week I turned 60 made me recall a lifetime of experiences at the fixture Ever since the Observer Sport Monthly published a list of 50 sporting things you must do before you die with Watch Boca Juniors Play River Plate in Buenos Aires at No 1 in 2004, the biggest super derby in Argentina has been firmly positioned in the global imagination; its reputation for colour, passion and uncontainable emotion acquiring an almost glamorous sheen.

The thump and thud of the coordinated chants, the shiny ticker-tape amid flare smoke…