Cloud9 vs MAD Lions

This here is the crème de la crème, the stuff dreams are made of: LEC vs. LCS! And, frankly, it rarely matters *who's* competing as long as it's a top-tier team from each region. The EU vs. NA clashes always deliver, if not in terms of play and competitiveness then certainly in terms of narratives and overarching storylines. So, to put it as simply and succinctly as possible: this is an absolute must-watch!

But perhaps the most interesting thing about this particular clash is that there's no clear-cut favorite. European champions always had the edge throughout history, and it's pretty much the kind of status quo we've all become accustomed to. Time time around, though, we'll witness a bit of history get made. MAD Lions are exceptional, of that we're all aware, but they're no G2 Esports nor are they Fnatic. Instead, they're a brash, confident, and surprisingly capable bunch that's still lacking experience and veterancy. Now, granted, their feistiness and sheer grit offset their weaknesses to a certain degree, but at the highest of levels and against the best of opponents, that just might not be enough. That's what we'll find out over the next couple of days: whether they have what it takes to rub shoulders with the who's who of competitive League. And, frankly, they don't have to win -- a couple of competitive affairs will suffice for the time being!

Then again, Cloud9 is by no means an indomitable giant of competitive League. They're flawed, inconsistent, and easily exploitable given the right preparation and strategy. Whether MAD have what it takes to do said exploiting still remains to be seen, but they definitely have a shot.

The LCS champions, on the other hand, are surging in every sense of the word. If their last three games are any indication, they should definitely be favored against the less experienced European representatives. Still, we're talking nuances here, and the gap between them — assuming there *is* one — is by no means wide or insurmountable. Quite the contrary. In fact, both teams have looked downright spectacular lately, but seeing how Cloud9 emerged from a noticeably more competitive group, it's impossible not to give them the benefit of the doubt. Of course, that one fact doesn't have to mean much in the grand scheme of things, but taking DWG KIA down in relatively clean and commanding fashion is definitely worth something nowadays.

The LCS champions have had huge swings in performance, but they're entering this match on a three-game win streak and have a fair bit of momentum behind their backs as well. MAD Lions have, in that sense, been a lot more consistent, but their highs (arguably) haven't been quite as impressive. So it really boils down to who'll draft better and impose their pace from the very get-go. Predicting the outcome of this one match is nigh impossible, but we'll side with Cloud9 mainly because of their experience and ability to perform under pressure.