A 40,000 crowd watched with horrified fascination as the team that had so laboured to find its feet against the Bolivians once again struggled to impress, showing no sign that it can end an 18-year trophy drought.
Messi's sloping shoulders and scowls told their own story but Batista left him and Tevez out there to soak up the full 90 minutes punishment.
The Argentinian coach added to his attacking options by throwing on opening-day scorer Sergio Aguero for Ezequiel Lavezzi on the hour and then Gonzalo Higuain for Ever Banega with 20 minutes remaining.
But still a breakthrough proved elusive in a dour game which had none of the drama of a hattrick of missed penalties by former albiceleste striker Martin Palermo in 1999 against the Colombians or indeed the latter's 5-0 romp in a World Cup qualifier in 1993.
Yet that was about all the home fans had to be thankful for - that at least they did not have to revisit either of those nightmares.
Now Costa Rica will have to be despatched Monday in Cordoba if the host nation are to repair their fading credibility while Colombia will be feeling relaxed as they prepare to face Bolivia on Sunday
PTI