Racing Club are certainly among the favourites to lift the Superliga title but just as they did in last season’s championship winning campaign, La Academia were unable to kick off with three points. Not since 2014 have Racing won on the opening day, one of only two victories in the previous thirteen seasons, but there was still an expectation in the Cilindro from the visit of a substantially weaker Unión side.

Camped in the opponent’s half during the early stages when Jonathan Cristaldo volleyed agonisingly wide from Lisandro López’s neat lay-off, the opening goal of the Superliga season appeared imminent.

However, Unión dug in, began to grow in confidence and it was the visitors that came even closer to a breakthrough, defender Yeimar Gómez Andrade striking the inside of the post with Gabriel Arias beaten.

Racing dominated large spells but couldn’t find a way through a dogged Unión, who may have lost a couple of important attacking players during the window but who still defended superbly. A strong appeal for handball against Gómez waved away by referee Nicolás Lamolina denied Racing a penalty and from that point there was a lack of ideas from Eduardo Coudet’s side.

Unión goalkeeper Sebastián Moyano saved a couple of long distance efforts which he would have been expected to make and when the goalless draw looked certain, Racing had their best chance to win it.

Deep in stoppage time a long ball over the top released substitute Darío Cvitanich behind a Unión backline caught napping but Moyano stood firm and denied the veteran centre forward one-on-one.

A point certainly not the end of the world for Racing but Coudet will know his side must improve if they are to claim back-to-back titles.