Lanús's attacking form has severely dropped off, managing just two goals across their last eight fixtures in all competitions. Their inability to sustain pressure has made them highly predictable in the final third.

The fixture calendar strongly favors Instituto, who have enjoyed over three weeks of preparation time. In contrast, Lanús is navigating a punishing Libertadores group stage that has visibly drained their intensity.

Away struggles have defined Lanús's recent run, suffering four consecutive road defeats without finding the back of the net. That lack of travel resilience is a major red flag in a domestic cup environment.

Instituto brings a highly controlled defensive structure into this tie, keeping four clean sheets in their last eight matches. Seven of those eight games have finished with under three total goals.

Public expectation often leans toward the recognized bigger name, but Lanús's current form does not justify blind backing. Knockout football in the Copa Argentina frequently defaults to conservative game states, and the visitors' ongoing goal drought makes an open contest highly improbable.