Diego Cocca will have plenty to ponder ahead of Racing Club’s Superliga opening fixture away to San Lorenzo next weekend after watching his side struggle to get past Nacional B side Club Atlético Mitre.

Despite starting with three new signings and a couple of talented academy products, Racing should have had more than enough to ease past their lower league opposition in the Estadio Florencio Sola on Friday evening.

However, after one of those recent signings, Egidio Arévalo Ríos carelessly lost possession and allowed Ramiro Fergonzi to rifle Mitre ahead, it made for a nervy night’s work for La Academia.

Captain Lisandro López, who saw a second half penalty saved and was later denied again after an outstanding double-save by goalkeeper Alejandro Medina, was highly self critical of his display but did bundle in the vital equaliser with less than fifteen minutes remaining.

With the tie heading for penalties, Leandro Grimi snatched a late winner with a superb, improvised volley and Racing booked their place in the last 32.

Huge improvements are needed ahead of next week but La Academia are still in the competition Olimpo lie ahead.