There was certainly plenty of scope for Boca Juniors to hit the skids as the second half of the Primera season resumed this weekend. Talisman Carlos Tevez is now in China, Guillermo Barros Schelotto had selection headaches and a trip to the Estadio Florencio Sola, where Banfield were unbeaten and had already ended Estudiantes’ unbeaten record, meant victory was far from a foregone conclusion for the league leaders.

Any such scepticism proved misplaced as Barros Schelotto’s decisions were vindicated and Boca ran out 2-0 winners extending their winning streak to five and ensuring the three-point lead at the top remains intact.

It was far from flawless and adjusting to life post-Tevez will take time but the two selection dilemmas were judged perfectly; Dario Benedetto got the nod over Walter Bou and scored both goals taking his Primera tally to nine and his strike rate to an impressive goal every 72 minutes while Agustin Rossi made his debut in goal reacting superbly to deny Banfield on more than one occasion.

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