The home team controlled most of the first half without posing any real threat before Carlos Tevez opened the scoring for the visitors shortly after the interval.

But the hosts were level midway through the second period courtesy of Marco Streller.

A well-drilled Switzerland team played a controlled passing game throughout with Argentina's key player, Lionel Messi, well covered by at least two players for most of the time.

With the Barcelona forward struggling to get into the match, it was Tevez who led from the front constantly asking questions of the Swiss defenders.

But it was the home side who created the first opening when Tranquilo Barnetta's free-kick brushed the post after nine minutes.

On the half-hour, Diego Milito's close-range header from a Tevez free-kick came back off the post in the only two major chances of the first half.

Four minutes after the restart, Messi finally managed to break free and beat off two defenders, before flighting a neat ball for Tevez to head home.

But the hosts drew level in the 64th minute, Streller capitalising on a mix-up in the Argentinian defence before hitting home a loose ball in the penalty area.

Esteban Cambiasso then saw his effort deflected off defender Patrick Muller onto the post, before Milito almost snatched a win late on, but shot narrowly wide.

Argentina play their second friendly of the week against Algeria in Barcelona on June 5.