The seven-goal thrashing of Vélez suggested that Boca Juniors were back, last week’s Superclásico draw dampened expectation a little and Sunday’s defeat to Talleres plunged Miguel Ángel Russo’s side back into a crisis. Despite winning back-to-back domestic titles it’s been a turbulent period for Boca and the weaknesses exposed by January’s Copa Libertadores exit to Santos remain laid bare.

Talleres had won only once this season ahead of their trip to La Bombonera yet played with the confidence of a side all too aware of the fragility within this Boca side. A rare error from Esteban Andrada gifted Talleres an early lead, the Boca goalkeeper poorly clearing and after Mateo Retegui’s initial effort hit the post, Carlos Auzqui turned in from close range.

While Boca’s attack failed to create any chances of note, the cracks in defence were showing when Carlos Izquierdoz and Frank Fabra got into a heated discussion.

The impressive visitors had looked more likely to add a second but Boca were thrown a life-line eight minutes from time when substitute Michael Santos headed into his own net.

The stage looked set for Boca to snatch a late win yet deep in stoppage time, Diego Valoyes was left in acres of space and the Colombian cooly slotted a volley past Andrada.

Not yet halfway through the initial group phase of the Copa De La Liga and only one point behind the top four it’s hardly time to panic for Boca. Defeat to Independiente next weekend wouldn’t even really diminish the Xenieze’s chances of progressing but it would further highlight the increasing dependence on Edwin Cardona and only ramp up the pressure.

San Lorenzo are also starting to feel the heat after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Aldosivi in Bajo Flores.

A superb Francisco Grahl free-kick had given Aldosivi a first half lead and although San Lorenzo’s performance was barely worth even a point Franco Di Santo struck a stoppage time equaliser.

It had looked to have at least spared any further blushes yet there was still time for an Aldosivi counter and former San Lorenzo forward Rodrigo Contreras clipped in an 96th minute winner.

With one win in the Copa De La Liga it’s safe to say far more was expected of Diego Dabove. If San Lorenzo fail to beat Santos and therefore miss out on the Copa Libertadores group stage, the former Argentinos Juniors manager will come under even greater scrutiny.

Elsewhere in Group A, Colón’s perfect start to the campaign came to an end with a goalless draw against Rosario Central.

And in Group B, Sarmiento surprised Defensa y Justicia with a 3-1 win over Sebastián Beccacece’s side.

The Verde lost 6-0 to Independiente last time out and were missing countless members of the first team squad after a spate of positive Covid-19 tests yet managed to chalk up a first win in the top flight since their promotion.

Defensa y Justicia got off to a bad start in Junín with goalkeeper Ezequiel Unsain caught off guard by Jonathan Torres’ long range effort after only four minutes. What should have been a routine save bobbling over the line and giving Sarmiento the perfect antidote to a miserable week.

Torres stuck again from the penalty spot just after half time following a handball against Marcelo Benítez and when another mistake released Sarmiento on the counter Sergio Quiroga was able to roll in a simple third.

Walter Bou reduced the deficit with the game’s second penalty twelve minutes from time but it was nothing more than a consolation for the Halcón, who missed the chance to go second.