Fierce El Clasico derby delayed after fans throw SALT at rivals' dugout as riot police forced to patrol the stands

KICK-OFF was delayed in a huge derby over the weekend after fans threw salt at the opposition dugout.

Superstitious supporters felt that the salt would curse their rivals with bad luck for the big match dubbed the "Clasico".

The La Plata derby between Gimnasia and Estudiantes isn't quite Boca Juniors vs River Plate, but it can still get feisty.

Hosts Gimnasia's supporters drenched the Estudiantes dugout in salt, which had to be cleared up before the match could proceed.

Players awkwardly stood around and watched as their area was cleared.

Commentators in Argentina even suggested that witch doctors had been consulted prior to this fixture.

Riot police were deployed to try and keep the crowd in check.

The match eventually got underway, and whatever Gimnasia may or may not have tried seemed to do the trick… albeit not immediately.

Perhaps spurred on by his side's salty bench, ex-Wigan striker Mauro Boselli gave Estudiantes the lead on four minutes.

The Argentine, 37, played 24 times for the Latics between 2010 and 2013, scoring five goals.

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Estudiantes went in at the break leading 1-0, but would be pegged back just 11 minutes into the second-half.

Gimnasia levelled through Alan Hernan Lescano, with late drama to come.

The hosts were awarded a spot kick with just five minutes remaining, and it was subsequently converted by Cristian Tarragona.

Gimnasia's win saw them climb level on eight points with their rivals after eight games of the season.

Estudiantes sit 24th in the table, one place above Gimnasia on goal difference.