In front of a minimal crowd inside the Los Angeles Coliseum, Argentina and Chile renewed acquaintances and while some of the usual ill-feeling was present there was little quality on show in their goalless draw.

With Lionel Messi suspended and Sergio Agüero not selected, Los Angeles decided not to show up in numbers for the visit of La Albiceleste and in truth the few that were present saw little more than a couple of half chances and ten yellow cards.

Argentina started the brighter and Paulo Dybala drifting in off the right in that position normally occupied by Messi and combining with Lautaro Martínez did ask questions of Chile. The Juventus forward forced Claudio Bravo into one smart stop following a superb passage of play yet Argentina couldn’t sustain this.

Charles Aránguiz went closest for Chile during the opening 45 minutes with a low shot parried by Agustín Marchesín and the midfielder was perhaps fortunate not to see red for an ugly studs-up challenge on Giovani Lo Celso.

As the inevitable glut of substitutions followed in the second half the game lost its way even further yet both sides did come closest to breaking the deadlock. César Pinares struck the crossbar when running on to a cut back inside the penalty area and debutant Lucas Martínez Quarta did the same late on at a corner.

Aside from Martínez Quarta, Nicolás Domínguez and Alexis Mac Allister making their debuts there was little to get excited about for Argentina and Lionel Scaloni’s side now head to San Antonio to take on Mexico on Tuesday.