It wasn’t to be a first win of the season for Newell’s Old Boys but Germán Burgos began his managerial career with a point as his new side played out a goalless draw with Unión at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.

A game of few chances Burgos in just a few days with the squad had perhaps instilled some defensive structure that had gradually worsened under Frank Kudelka yet the issues in attack were still evident.

Unión weren’t much better. Jonathan Galván struck a first half volley just wide and Fernando Márquez almost got on the end of a low cross but Newell’s goalkeeper Alan Aguerre had little to do.

As did opposite number Sebastián Moyano, who watched on as Manuel Llano drilled a shot across the face of goal and Manuel Capasso glanced a header inches wide.

A couple of hopeful shouts for penalties looked the best bet for a breakthrough with a share of the points ultimately a fair reflection. Unión climb to fourth in Group B with the point while Newell’s remain with only Arsenal below them.

The game in Group A pitched second against third with Central Córdoba and Estudiantes eager to close on runaway leaders Colón.

The home team took the lead after 18 minutes, Lucas Brochero following up to volley in when Cristian Vega’s initial effort had been saved by Mariano Andújar. The lead didn’t last long though, goalkeeper Alejandro Sánchez making a mess of a cross into the box and leaving Leonardo Godoy with the simplest of tap-ins into an unguarded net.

The improvements made by Estudiantes under Ricardo Zielinski are clear but arguably even more impressive is Gustavo Coleoni’s Central Córdoba sitting high in the table with only one defeat in six games. Good value for another point on Friday few would have thought the Ferroviario would be in the top four of Group A even at this early stage.