With eight rounds completed, Uruguay are the leaders of South America's World Cup qualification campaign, a point clear of Brazil and Argentina.
There is a traditional look, then, to the qualification table, with the top three places taken by the sides who between them share nine World Cup wins.
But part of the story of a fascinating night's action went the other way, stressing just how tight and well balanced things have now become in a gripping campaign. Because this was the night when Argentina came close to a humiliating defeat at the hands of Venezuela.
At opposite ends of the continent, these countries have opposing football traditions. Argentina are the traditional power, and Venezuela are the newcomers. In the 2014 qualifiers, Venezuela managed a 1-0 home win against Argentina, with the goal scrambled home from a corner. Tuesday's match in Merida finished 2-2 -- but there were moments when it seemed that Argentina were heading for humiliation.