After defeating Atlante 3–1 in the latter half of the Apertura 2013, Santos Laguna secured a berth in the Copa Libertadores for the second time in their history.[3] Los Guerreros finished undefeated at the top of Group 8, which included Copa Argentina winners Arsenal de Sarandí, Uruguayan league champions Peñarol and Venezuelan league runners-up Deportivo Anzoátegui.[4][5] In the away leg of the Round of 16, Santos Laguna faced Argentinian side Lanús, which they lost 2-1.