Newell’s finished their campaign in the first stage with a convincing 3-1 home success over Lanus after trailing 1-0 at one point. However, they were already out of chances to qualify for the Fase Campeonato: it was only enough to climb into the third spot in group 4 on seven points. On a positive note, all of those points were claimed in the last four games (two wins, one draw and a single defeat).
Estudiantes produced a sorry campaign in the first stage. After their 1-0 away defeat at Argentinos in match week six, they ended up the bottom in group 5 on just two points and they are yet to score in this competition. In fact, El Pincha extended their winless run to 11 first-division matches, registering four draws and seven defeats. On the road, they haven’t claimed any victories in the last eight, drawing five and losing three. Estudiantes boss Leandro Desabato is still missing Nicolas Pasquini, Fernando Tobio, and Federico Gonzalez due to their respective injuries.