For all the talk previously of Lionel Messi underperforming for Argentina, the prospect of La Albiceleste without their inspirational captain appears to be a concerning one. After two matches of World Cup qualification, Argentina remain winless and in over 180 minutes of football they have yet to find the back of the net. On Tuesday night in Asunción, Paraguay were not able to exploit the weaknesses that Ecuador could previously but the same difficulties with creating chances were evident and Gerardo Martino’s side could only manage a point.

After Sergio Agüero joined Lionel Messi on the treatment table, Martino turned to Carlos Tevez to provide the goals that his side desperately lacked. By his own admission, Tevez is more of a second striker, willing to drop deep and create as much as he is score, and although this has still led to him being prolific at club level, his record for Argentina is woeful. Tevez was certainly not the worst player on the pitch against Paraguay but gave further evidence for his own analysis with a couple of good passes to create chances for Ezequiel Lavezzi but crucially heading one of the game’s clearest chances over the bar.

The absence of a recognised number nine was startling and even though Javier Pastore was completely anonymous, Martino failed to address this and introduce a striker for Tevez to play off. As Argentina continued to huff and puff, Paraguay became more of a threat on the break and but for a couple of last ditch blocks, they might have found a late winner, as Ecuador did.

Paulo Dybala, on for his debut with ten minutes remaining, could have snatched all three points after being played in by Érik Lamela but the Juventus striker blazed his volley over the bar and the chance was lost.

Gerardo Martino told the press after the match: “We came to recover the points that we lost in the first matchday. We regret that we did not get the three points, which is what we came for. I am not satisfied with the point.”

One point from a possible six and with November fixtures against Colombia and Brazil ahead, still without Lionel Messi, things could get much worse for Martino if he does not find a solution to Argentina’s current problem.

Paraguay  0 – 0  Argentina