Boca Juniors went three goals down within 18 minutes as they lost 4-2 at Newell's Old Boys in the Argentine Clausura championship on Saturday night.

Boca, whose coach Alfio Basile resigned less than two weeks before the tournament started, picked up four points from their opening two matches but their aging defence has now shipped seven goals in three games.

Strikers Martin Palermo and Lucas Viatri pulled two goals back before 10-man Newell's, who had defender Agustin Alayes sent off with 23 minutes to go, scored through former Monaco midfielder Lucas Bernardi in stoppage time.

Boca have sought to strengthen their rearguard and signed Brazilian Luiz Alberto from Fluminense after Paraguay's Julio Cesar Caceres went the other way to Atletico Mineiro. But the defender has not yet made his debut.

Argentinos Juniors came from two down to crush Lanus 6-3 in with two goals by striker Nicolas Pavlovich.

Velez Sarsfield, winners of last year's Clausura in July, were top with seven points from three matches after their 2-1 home win over Gimnasia-La Plata.