Estudiantes de Río Cuarto secured promotion to Argentina's Primera División by drawing 1-1 with Deportivo Madryn in the Reducido final return leg, with a 3-1 aggregate score. The match in Trelew ended in chaos due to local fans' incidents that forced suspension. It marks the Córdoba club's return to the elite after 40 years.
The return leg of the Reducido final was played on November 30, 2025, at Estadio Abel Sastre in Trelew, Chubut, with Deportivo Madryn as the home team. In the first leg on November 22 in Río Cuarto, Estudiantes won 2-0 with goals from Tomás González and Juan Antonini. To promote, Madryn needed to win by at least two goals; a draw or one-goal loss secured the spot for Iván Delfino's team.
The first half ended 0-0, with Estudiantes dominating possession (67%) and clear chances, like Javier Ferreira's header at 21 minutes saved by Yair Bonnin. Yellow cards went to Diego Martínez (23' PT), Sergio Ojeda (25' PT), Juan Antonini (39' PT), and Federico Recalde (47' PT) from Madryn.
In the second half, Luis Silba opened the scoring at 18 minutes with a spectacular scissor kick, making it 1-0 (1-2 aggregate). Madryn pressed, but Recalde's ejection for a second yellow at 35 minutes hurt their chances. Minutes later, Agustín Morales equalized at 39 minutes with a precise shot inside the area, sealing the 1-1 and promotion.
The end was chaotic: in stoppage time, Madryn fans invaded the pitch, threw objects, and broke the fence, forcing referee Facundo Tello to suspend the match due to lack of safety guarantees. Estudiantes players ran to the locker room; there was no on-field ceremony, but Marcelo Achile presented a symbolic trophy afterward. Stats: 52%-48% possession for Madryn, one shot on goal each, 5 yellows for Madryn and 2 for Estudiantes, one red for Madryn.
Estudiantes, second in Zone B, previously eliminated Patronato (2-1 aggregate), Gimnasia y Tiro (2-0), and Estudiantes BA (sports advantage after 1-1). They will join Gimnasia de Mendoza in Primera for 2026. This historic promotion gives Córdoba four teams in the elite.
