In many ways, football is a simple game: the team that scores the most goals wins. Yet in every single match, there are intriguing statistical sub-plots that help make the beautiful game the fascinating spectacle that it is. That's why, each week, FIFA.com takes a look at the numbers behind the results.

This week's review is dominated by an Uruguayan hat-trick hero in the Lowlands, a desperate away run for River Plate and an aging Scot rolling back the years with a goal in the English Premier League. A high-scoring derby in the north of England and a record away win for Freiburg also take centre stage.

15

is the number of away matches that Buenos Aires giants River Plate have gone without a win on their travels. The weekend's 1-0 loss at Arsenal was their 15th straight defeat outside their Estadio Monumental, equalling their worst-ever away sequence, which came back in 1978. Los Millonarios last success on opposition soil came in February 2009, 2-1 at Rosario Central. Since then, they have lost 12 and drawn three.

37

years and 344 days was the age at which Graham Alexander became the oldest Scotsman to score in the English Premier League when he hammered home from the spot in Burnley's 3-1 win over Sunderland. The goal also made Alexander the oldest scorer in England's top flight so far this term and the eighth-oldest in its history [the oldest being Teddy Sheringham, who netted for West Ham United at the ripe old age of 40 years and 268 days]. More importantly, the goal helped Burnley keep up their 100 per cent record at home this season.

150

hat-tricks have been scored by Ajax players following Luis Suarez's wonder show against VVV-Venlo on Sunday. The Uruguayan scored all his side's goals in their 4-0 away win, to complete his third treble for the Amsterdam outfit and his tenth of the season. Since 1985, only Ruud van Nistelrooy (13) and Marco van Basten (12) have scored more goals after seven matchdays in the Eredivisie. The sky looks like the limit for this Celeste forward.

7

goals made Manchester City's 4-3 win over Manchester City the joint-highest-scoring game in the history of the derby. Michael Owen's last-gasp goal snatched victory for the Red Devils, and ensured seven goals were posted in the fixture for the third time following fellow epics in 1926 and 1971. The last time City scored three goals at United's fabled old ground was in April 1972, when they won 3-1.

4

goals without reply was what Freiburg scored at Hertha Berlin on Sunday, making it their joint-biggest away win of all time. In April 1994, Freiburg won 4-0 at Stuttgart. The team's biggest-ever victory is 5-0, and they achieved it twice at home.