FC Schalke 04 vs exceL

This match will mark the long-awaited return of the most divisive, polarizing and distinct AD carry in European history: FORG1VEN. That's alone is a solid enough reason to tune. Heck, it's the only reason we need to get excited. Thousands of fans have been waiting for this day for years. Three long years, in fact, have passed since the Greek phenom last competed in the LEC. That's quite a lot of time if you were a fan of his honesty, lack of filter, and mesmerizing mechanical prowess.

FORG1VEN is an absolute legend, and his staggering level of play is still etched in the minds of many. He's a true behemoth and was generally regarded as one of the best marksmen to ever play competitive. Now, you have to realize that this was years ago, so the landscape definitely changed quite a bit, but his talent and work ethic were unrivaled and are still talked about to this day.

His return is one of the most fascinating storylines and events in recent history. There are so many questions that have yet to be answered. Is he still as good as he was in the past? Did his prowess deplete over the years? Can he acclimate to a noticeably different meta game? All of these burning questions will be answered in a matter of weeks if not days. It's fair to say that thousands of fans will tune in with anticipation and delight, just to see the Greek prodigy compete at the highest of stages yet again.

And then we also have the rest of Schalke as well. They're a fascinating line-up filled with familiar faces. Odoamne and Gilius definitely stand out as two veterans of the league, but Abbedagge and Dreams are also a nice match stylistically. All five of them will, in one way or another, seek redemption from the moment they step foot on stage today. They're an aggressive squad which, depending on how they mesh, could either be an incredibly positive thing or a reason for concern. If they don't agree on how the game should be played, they're bound to clash which will, in turn, heavily affect their play. We know of the many egos that are present within the roster, so they'll have to work extra hard not to step on each other's toes.

Regardless of how high they'll eventually climb, this incarnation of Schalke is downright fascinating, and while they might not be the best team around, they're more than worthy of your attention.

Opposite them, we have Excel Esports. Now, the name "Excel" doesn't really instill anyone with confidence, especially not after last year. That said, the organization made numerous intelligent decisions and signings during the off-season, and it's fair to say that they've upgraded in many unexpected and positive ways. They're still not a titan by any stretch of the imagination, but they're solid, well-rounded, and don't have any huge glaring weakness. They do, however, have a skill ceiling, and that's bound to cause them problems sooner or later.

Despite this, most people are predicting them to be a solid playoff contender, and that feels about right. They might not have any big names like Schalke does, but they're every bit as talented, and with the "six-star general" Youngbuck leading the charge, they're bound to become a lot more dangerous than most people expect.

Because both teams are somewhat similar at the moment (at least in terms of their overall potential and possible avenues for success), predicting the outcome of this one match is quite a thankless endeavor as there are so many ways for this game to unfold. That said, we're going to side with Schalke 04 on this one primarily because of their momentous veteran presence. If it's an even game, the sheer experience that Odoamne and FORG1VEN bring to the table *should* be the determining factor. Either way, we'll know a lot more about both rosters and how strong they currently are in a matter of hours.