G2 Esports vs MAD Lions

The LEC playoffs are finally here. After nine whole weeks of regular season play, we finally know the six best teams, the challengers who'll compete for the prestigious (and often reserved) LEC throne. For many of them, this is "do or die", their biggest chance to not only etch their names in history but also solidify their spot at the top of a region many deem as the second best in the world, a region that has always been dominated by just two "Kings".

Being a top team in Europe is, in many ways, a position of prestige. This year gave us a better view into many new and unexpected challengers, and watching the playoffs unfold over the next couple of weeks will be an absolute must regardless of your allegiance.

No one's expecting any huge upset this time around, which doesn't mean excitement and top-tier play will be absent -- on the contrary. Once again, we have two exceptional titans in G2 Esports and Fnatic, at the top then a team that is in a league of its own (Origen), and then three contenders of seemingly equal skill and potential. Although they might not possess the same amount of talent as the three teams above them, they're still more than capable of trading heavy blows seeing how they all present a complex, layered challenge.

To start things off, we have a very exciting Best of 5 between G2 Esports and MAD Lions.

Our of all three playoff matches this week, this one is the most "exotic". There's so much at play, so many details, so much nuance. While, yes, the odds are heavily stacked in G2's favor, it's not like MAD doesn't have a puncher's chance (at least on paper). Everyone's downplaying their skill and flexibility, and yet this team -- that has just a single "veteran" -- reached Top 4 in its very first LEC split. That's insane, frankly.

And they did so by going through thick and thin. They had amazing games, matches where you could really see all of the immense potential that's present within this line-up. Then again, they also had games where you doubted if they have any talent at all. They often went from being slick and commanding in execution to downright abysmal, and you never really knew which kind of MAD would come out and play.

In the end, however, their record speaks for itself. They even took down third-placed Origen last week in rather one-sided fashion. They're rookies, that's a fact, but they're not playing like rookies nor do they accept such a "subpar" role within the region. These are all insanely talented players and they're taking turns at impressing us with each passing week. They also have a very capable coaching staff behind them, so you know they're always well-prepared for the task at hand. Their execution is often flawed (as is expected from such an inexperienced five-man line-up), but they're making huge strides as time goes on.

It's really hard to put into words just how impressive their fourth place finish actually is, and they earned it in sweat and "blood". Reaching such a prestigious point in a region that's as stacked as the LEC is no small feat, and it speaks volumes about their skill, resilience, and mental fortitude. Who knows, if the regular portion of the split lasted for another week or two, there's a good chance they would've been able to overtake Origen and finish third.

Still, by reaching Top 4 they've essentially earned themselves a second chance in the playoffs even if they fail to take down G2 Esports which, in all fairness, they probably will. The LEC has transitioned to an altered double elimination format which rewards teams that finish at the top -- like MAD Lions.

So here's the thing. This ragtag group of friends and underdogs is exceptional in more than just a couple of ways, and their flexibility and fearless approach, both in the pick and ban phase as well as in-game, is incredible and worthy of the highest praise. They went for strategies no one else would and they experimented whenever they could. Those are all immense virtues and they'll make them an even bigger threat to the LEC throne come Summer Split.

Right now, however, they're up against an absolute League of Legends titan: G2 Esports. We've said this time and time again, but they're truly the best and most capable team Europe ever fostered. They've seen it all, and they've persevered through thick and thin. This doesn't mean they're infallible or that they won't drop a game (or two) against MAD Lions, but rather that they shine brightest when their backs are against the wall and when they have something to prove. They can dismantle their opponents in a myriad of ways and can turn things around even from a baffling deficit. When they're at the top of their game, you can argue that there's maybe one or two teams in the world who can actually take them down.

This is why they can fool around and experiment without much fear -- they know they can pull through and get the win even in the toughest of circumstances primarily because they have the best players in the region. This playoff Best of 5 is no different. G2 is simply better across the board and their vast experience and mental fortitude will allow them to get the win yet again. They might not look particularly clean, and they might even drop a couple of games in the process, but they're the heavy favorites and with good reason.

It's impossible to bet against G2 Esports at this point. They're still having fun but once the going gets rough, you can expect them in top form. MAD Lions will put up a commendable fight, but it shouldn't be enough against a team of G2's caliber. Still, regardless of the outcome, both teams will surely fight their hearts out which means fireworks are guaranteed.