MAD Lions vs exceL

On paper, this doesn't seem like a particularly special match-up, and yet it's both endlessly interesting but also brimming with potential. First and foremost, if you're looking for the absolute best League of Legends in Europe, this probably won't be it. But it's gonna be close, that's for sure. If you want to see the next breed of European talent duke it out on the Summoner's Rift, then this match is an absolute must watch.

Furthermore, don't be fooled by the fact that these two line-ups don't have any superstars within them: both MAD Lions and Excel Esports are extremely talented across the board, and they also have all the right tools which are necessary to compete with the best teams in the league. This is, in many ways, a fight between two playoff-worthy contenders.

And both of them -- in their own distinct ways -- have earned our trust and benefit of the doubt just after a single week of play. MAD Lions certainly didn't have a lot of hype coming into 2020, although many believed that so many up-and-coming rookies (who already attained a fair bit of success in the "B leagues") could prosper once they stepped foot on the LEC stage. But despite their potential, signing so many unknown quantities was always a risk many teams weren't willing to take. MAD Lions (ex Splyce) are no such team.

We are just two games into the season and yet we can already say with confidence that this is a very capable, deceptively dangerous line-up that could definitely go places in due time. They were even giving G2 Esports a run for their money in the very first opening match of 2020. They fight tooth and nail to the best of their ability and while they're still a bit rough around the edges, there's a lot to like overall. They just need time, much like Rogue needed time last year. Fortunately, with a stellar coaching staff behind them, it's only a matter of time before they fulfill their potential. Watching them develop and grow over time will be an absolute joy, that's for sure.

Opposite them, however, we have Excel Esports. Now, if you've watched the LEC last year, you probably don't remember this organization in a good (competitive, rather) light. But boy have things changed. Excel is entering this match with a fair bit of hype, and although their 1W-1L record isn't particularly monumental, they've looked downright fantastic in both of their outings so far. They're insanely aggressive, unexpectedly capable, and have shown no fear when it comes to engaging and playing their own game. That's a key virtue, and it'll elevate their play more often than not. It's hard to put into words, really, just how much they've improved. Such a thing was expected, seeing how they've changed considerably during the off-season.

Their AD carry Patrik, in particular, has been playing out of his mind. He's always engaging and taking and is constantly teetering on the razor's edge, dishing out insane amounts of damage while also keeping himself out of harm's way. The rest of the team is also surprisingly solid and with the "six star general" Youngbuck leading the charge, it's fair to say that they're a lock for the playoffs, especially if they continue building on their solid fundamentals.

For some reason, however, the odds are listed for Excel to lose which, while possible, isn't likely to happen. They have all the right tools to not only defeat a much less experienced MAD Lions squad but also do it in rather one-sided fashion. Because of this, we're siding with Excel. This is far from a safe bet, but if they play as well as they did last week, they shouldn't have too much of a problem in emerging victorious.