Few would have fancied San Martín to score twice in La Bombonera and while Néstor Gorosito’s side surprised those by doing just that, they couldn’t prevent Boca Juniors chalking up another Superliga victory. Boca had the best defence in the league prior to the game, a record that looked hard to believe given their defending on Sunday but it mattered little as goals from Carlos Tevez, Cristian Pavón, Nahitan Nández and Wanchope Abila gave the champions a 4-2 win.

That victory sent Boca twelve points clear until Monday evening and while San Lorenzo missed their chance to close after a disappointing defeat away to Gimnasia, underdogs Talleres chalked up a fifth win in six to reduce Boca’s lead to nine. La T now boast the best defensive record and with recent signings Matías Pisano and Santiago Silva already making a mark, Frank Kudelka’s side continue to impress.

With the Copa Libertadores group stage starting this week, Racing Club have hit form at just the right time and on Friday secured a fourth consecutive victory. Maxi Cuadra’s injury time winner inflicted a defeat and the first points dropped at home for Godoy Cruz as La Academia are now back in the 2019 Libertadores qualifying spots.

Just above them are rivals Independiente, who bounced back from their Recopa disappointment in midweek to deservedly beat Banfield but while four of the grandes make up the top five, it is quite a different outlook for River Plate.

Marcelo Gallardo’s side simply cannot get out of their rut and on Sunday another listless display was punished. Vélez Sarsfield nicked a 1-0 win in Liniers to inflict a sixth straight away defeat. River begin their Libertadores campaign this week and if there isn’t any improvement and qualification is in doubt, Rodolfo D’onofrio may need to think about the unthinkable.

This weekend’s clásico took place in Santa Fe and the usually fiery affair was somewhat subdued ending in a 1-1 draw between Unión and Colón.

And in the relegation battle, Arsenal were all but put out of their misery after losing to rivals Olimpo, Chacarita lost to Belgrano and Temperley’s point away to Newell’s did little to help their situation. Wins for Huracán and Vélez eased their fears and even with ten rounds remaining it is tough to see the current bottom four escaping.

So, in case you missed any of the action, here are all the games, all the goals and how the table looks after round seventeen…

Olimpo  2 – 1  Arsenal

Huracán  1 – 0  Estudiantes

Godoy Cruz  1 – 2  Racing Club

Defensa y Justicia  1 – 0  Patronato

Lanús  1 – 1  Rosario Central

Vélez Sarsfield  1 – 0  River Plate

Atlético Tucumán  0 – 0  Tigre

Chacarita Juniors  0 – 1  Belgrano

Independiente  1 – 0  Banfield

Unión  1 – 1  Colón

Boca Juniors  4 – 2  San Martín

Newell’s Old Boys  0 – 0  Temperley

Talleres  2 – 0  Argentinos Juniors

Gimnasia  1 – 0  San Lorenzo