G2 Esports vs Origen

Today we have yet another barnburner on our hands -- a clash between the defending champions G2 Esports and the perennial gatekeepers Origen. On the one hand, this is about as a premier match-up as you can get in the LEC. On the other, it feels like there's something missing, perhaps intrigue or mystery. We've seen these players duke it out on the Summoner's Rift on so many different occasions and while they never cease to amaze and entertain, it feels like we always get the exact same result.

This Best of 5, frankly, should be no different. G2 Esports are entering today's match after dropping a historic five-game series to MAD Lions last week. It was a surprising series of events and the defending champions were beaten across the board, albeit by the slimmest of margins. They really were the weaker team on the day, slower to react, with bad drafts and even worse synergy. It was an uncharacteristic showing from the best and most successful team Europe ever assembled. So it is only natural to expect them to return with a vengeance this time around and remind everyone who they really are. In that sense, Origen should be in for one heck of a beatdown.

Speaking of Origen, they didn't exactly ride a lot of hype or momentum after getting smacked around by Fnatic in what was a fairly one-sided 1-3 loss last week. They did, however, repent and redeem themselves by dishing out a similar "punishment" to Rogue just a couple of days ago. It was an expected outcome, sure, but the fashion in which it occurred definitely took everyone by surprise. This was not the Origen we were all accustomed to, but rather a much more aggressive, playmaking variant. Alphari and Xerxe ran circles around their lane counterparts, and as a team, Origen was more dominant and commanding than ever before. You could argue that they improved more in a matter of days than they did throughout the entire regular season.

It was a refreshing sight, really, and it gave us a better look at their long-term potential and sheer strength. Still, Rogue did implode quite a bit and as the series progressed, their play worsened considerably. By game three, they were as titled as possible. G2 Esports, on the other hand, are as big of a titan as you can get. They won't make the same mistakes. They won't tilt, even if you force them into a corner. Instead, they'll fight their hearts out and find a way to win no matter the odds. They've also demolished Origen in the past and there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to do the same today as well. They're angry, and they want to prove their worth after dropping a series to the unlikeliest of challengers. Whenever G2 comes out the gates swinging, entertainment and mind-blowing League of Legends follows almost by default.

They're prepared well, they've fixed their issues, and you can bet they won't going to make the same mistakes against Origen as they did against MAD Lions.