Instituto de Córdoba 2–1 Club Atlético Lanús | Copa Argentina | 31 May 2026

In a fiercely contested Copa Argentina Round of 32 tie at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Instituto de Córdoba edged past Club Atlético Lanús with a 2–1 victory. The match, played under the lights on 31 May 2026, saw the Cordoban side produce a resilient performance to book their place in the next round against a Granate side that had dominated large stretches of play.

Match Overview

Lanús entered the tie as favourites, given their strong recent form in the Argentine Primera División, but Instituto showed the grit that has made them a dangerous cup side. The first half was a tactical battle, with both teams pressing high and few clear chances. Instituto broke the deadlock in the 34th minute through a well-worked corner routine, with defender Gonzalo Requena heading home from close range. Lanús responded quickly, and just before the break, forward Walter Bou latched onto a through ball and slotted past the goalkeeper to level the score at 1–1.

Key Moments

• 34' – Requena header from a corner puts Instituto ahead.
• 42' – Bou equalises for Lanús with a clinical finish.
• 67' – Instituto's Lautaro Martínez (no relation to the Inter star) fires a stunning volley from the edge of the box to restore the lead.
• 82' – Lanús had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside after VAR review.
• 90+4' – Instituto goalkeeper Matías Ibáñez made a crucial save to preserve the win.

Tactical Story

Lanús controlled possession for much of the match, with their midfield trio dictating tempo. However, Instituto's compact 4-4-2 defensive block frustrated the Granate, forcing them into wide crosses that were dealt with comfortably. The turning point came in the second half when Instituto pressed higher and caught Lanús in transition for the second goal. Manager Diego Dabove of Instituto made astute substitutions, introducing fresh legs in midfield to protect the lead.

Standout Players

Gonzalo Requena was solid at the back and dangerous from set pieces, scoring the opener. Lautaro Martínez produced a moment of magic with the winning goal. For Lanús, Walter Bou remained a constant threat but lacked support in the final third.

Cup Impact

Instituto advances to the Round of 16 of the Copa Argentina, where they will face either a lower-division side or another top-flight club in a single-elimination match. Lanús, meanwhile, will shift focus back to the league, where they remain in the top half of the table. The result adds another chapter to Instituto's growing reputation as a cup giant-killer.