Bolivia may not have provided the sternest of tests for Gerardo Martino’s Argentina side in San Juan on Saturday night but in the absence of Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano, La Albiceleste showed plenty of promise in their unforgiving demolition of a more inexperienced side. Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero looked far sharper than he did prior to the World Cup in Brazil and netted a hat-trick while Ángel Di María showed no signs of a lack of confidence following his testing season in England and scored twice.

It became apparent almost immediately that Argentina would have too much for Bolivia as within a minute, a quick interchange of passing saw Agüero through on goal but his powerful finish came back off the inside of the post and across the face of goal. This proved to be just about the only let-off Bolivia had all night as Argentina continued to threaten and eventually took the lead in the 24th minute when Ángel Di María rifled in a shot from the edge of the box sparking a flurry of goals.

Three minutes later, Banega slipped in Ezequiel Lavezzi and the Paris St Germain forward was tripped as he dashed into the penalty box. Agüero confidently slotted in the resulting spot-kick and shortly after added his second when he was alert to Di María’s cross to reach it just before the goalkeeper and poke the ball into the net.

Agüero’s hat-trick goal just after half time was classic Agüero as the striker feinted and turned in the box to fire a powerful shot into the corner. It was the striker’s first hat-trick for the national side as he continues to close-in on ex-father-in-law Diego Maradona in the leading scorer charts.

Pastore then managed to win the side another penalty when his attempted cross was handled and Di María stroked in the fifth.

The only concerns were the injuries to Sergio Romero and Di María who were both substituted but neither are considered too serious and both should be available for the Paraguay match next Saturday. It is difficult to read too much into the victory but there is reason to be positive. Champions League winners, Messi and Mascherano will slot back into the side with an in-form attack and options in midfield. The true test of Martino’s Argentina begins next week where almost another other than lifting the Copa América will be viewed as failure.

Argentina  5 – 0  Bolivia