Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini break Italy's resistance to hand Argentina victory without Lionel Messi

Jorge Sampaoli admits Lionel Messi will carry this Argentina team “on his shoulders” at this summer’s World Cup. In that case, best not risk spraining anything, eh?

After months of promotion and a week of fervent anticipation in east Manchester, the greatest player of the generation, the man that the majority of those around a sparsely-populated Etihad Stadium had come to see was in the end sidelined, out with a slight muscle problem.

Sampaoli named Messi on the substitutes’ bench for this drab friendly with Italy, but he chose not to sit there, instead taking a place alongside his friend and fellow absentee Sergio Aguero in the director’s box.

With such prolific goalscorers sat in the stands, it seemed as though those pilgrims who had parted the £30 admission fee would get little for their money other than two international teams going through the motions.

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The only moments of real quality in the first 75 minutes came from the two goalkeepers present - man-of-the-match Gianluigi Buffon and on his international debut the 36-year-old Willy Caballero, once of these parts with Manchester City.

For those in the crowd who did not leave after a lifeless first half there were two late Argentina goals, with Sevilla’s Ever Banega and West Ham United’s Manuel Lanzini on the scoresheet, but that was not what those in attendance had come for.

When the final whistle sounded and they finally realised their plaintive cries of ‘Messi, Messi’ would go unanswered, boos followed.

For Italy, Banega and Lanzini’s strikes in the closing stages spoiled what would have been a solid result.

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This was their first outing under caretaker manager Luigi di Biagio, their first since the tragic death of Davide Astori and their first since failing to reach next summer’s tournament in Russia. Their performance left something to be desired though and ultimately, Argentina were good value for their win.

Angel di Maria, back in Manchester again, was the one player who impressed in the first half, showcasing the talent that seemed lost during his time at Old Trafford.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger first tested Buffon with an early effort from outside the box, and then should have had an assist to his name at the end of the first half. Gonzalo Higuain was sent through one-on-one but foiled by his Juventus team-mate Buffon.

The only mark against Di Maria’s first-half showing came during the interval. As he left the pitch for the dressing room, he swapped shirts with Marco Verratti, summing up an odd evening in one gesture.

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The opening minutes of the second half were more eventful than the entirety of the first. Chances fell to both sides and Lorenzo Insigne saw the best of them, but the Napoli striker could not punish Leandro Paredes’ mistake when presented with a clear sight of goal.

It was then, around the hour mark, that the Messi chants began in earnest and so did the many substitutions, sapping the contest of the energy it had suddenly found. It looked unlikely that the deadlock would be broken until it eventually was out of nothing.

A week-and-a-half on from Sevilla’s victory at Old Trafford, Banega was celebrating in Manchester again, tucking the ball away into the far corner and past Buffon after neatly exchanging possession with Giovani Lo Celso on the edge of the area.

Italy went in search of an equaliser but save for a sliding tackle, which skimmed past the post after Caballero had under-hit a pass, they did not come close.

As they pressed, Argentina countered. One move six minutes from time went through Higuain and though his break upfield was cumbersome, he had enough time on his hands to square to Lanzini, who rifled past Buffon and into the top corner for his first international goal. It was met with muted celebrations across the stadium. No Messi, no party.