MAD Lions vs Fnatic

The day has finally come. After MAD Lions upset G2 Esports in a historic Best of 5 last week, everyone's been dying to see them clash against Fnatic, and it's easy to understand why. This is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting matches we've had in quite a long, long time. There are so many questions in the air regarding both teams and their current power levels, and, frankly, it's downright impossible to predict anything with confidence.

On the one hand, Fnatic have the edge in every conceivable fashion. They're just the better team, they have more experience and they've played through and seen it all basically. In fact, many fans, analysts and casters consider them as the frontrunner to win the whole split and there's a good reason why. On the other hand, MAD Lions did not win against G2 Esports through any kind wizardry or cheesy strategy -- they were just better across the board on that given day and were able to best the most talented and successful team in LEC history for three games out of five. That's an insane accomplishment, and they deserve every bit of praise and hype they've been getting since.

So, really, anything can happen. These teams are playing from home in an online environment, so we're basically going to watch a longer scrim block. They're playing without any pressure, without a live audience which is an absolutely huge factor -- it affects each team in a different way. G2 Esports, for example, obviously couldn't approach their most recent Best of 5 in the exact same way and were slightly less dangerous and focused. MAD Lions, on the other hand, came out the gates swinging and made the world take notice. To them, it's much easier playing from home when no one's in front of them watching, shouting, and cheering regardless of allegiance.

They're still not that experienced and they can't feed off of a live audience and its energy like G2 or Fnatic can. So everyone's finding themselves in uncharted land and it's affecting their play in nuanced but important ways. If this Best of 5 was happening the LEC Studio in Berlin, everyone in their right mind would side with Fnatic, but these unexpected changes and developments make things a lot more complicated.

The fact that MAD Lions outclassed G2 when it mattered the most also gives them immense hype and momentum. It's not like they absolutely need it seeing how they've shown immaculate play even when playing from a deficit, but it will surely help. The knowledge that they not only belong at the very top of the region but that they also have the tools to beat the biggest LEC giants in history is an immense benefit for their confidence going forward.

Fnatic, however, have a lot of hype of their own after mopping the floor with Origen in a fairly quick four-game series. It was the kind of showing we expected: dominant, commanding, clean, with pristine execution and spectacular drafts. Everyone played their part and it was, in most cases, an absolute masterclass. Will they do the same against MAD Lions, though? Preparing for a team of their flexibility isn't nearly as easy as it might seem as MAD bring a lot more versatility to the table. They're also somewhat fearless, as evidenced by their games against G2 Esports. They don't care if a play will go awry and this willingness to engage and fight even when the odds are set against them immediately sets them apart.

Fnatic are very similar in that regard, but they also have more experience and one can argue that they're even crazier when given the right tools to work with.

No one's quite sure whether G2 Esports imploded a bit, or if MAD Lions punched above their weight class on that given day. Perhaps it's the mix of both. We know that G2 often plummets gameplay-wise when you least expect it. That is especially true with Caps in the bottom lane, and Mikyx also has his int games as well. We also know that MAD Lions have immense potential and we've seen it harnessed from time to time over the course of the regular season. When they all got on the same page, when they imposed their will and drafted to the best of their ability, they looked like a League of Legends behemoth in the making. Still, they're a volatile bunch and this immense potential is often too much for them to handle. They need time, they need refinement, and so they often go from a fantastic game to a downright abysmal one immediately afterwards. The funny thing is, it's not even dependent on the opponent.

Betting on Fnatic to win this Best of 5 is the only logical choice at this point in time. Still, there's a slight chance of MAD Lions actually getting an upset here as well. "Slight" is the key word here. They're entering with an inhumane amount of hype and they're far better than most people give them credit for. No one thought they could upset G2 Esports and yet here we are, looking at yet another possible historic moment. So, frankly speaking, if you want a safe bet then going with Fnatic would be the best option. If, on the other hand, you're feeling adventurous and are a firm believer in MAD Lions and their inherent potential (and think lightning can strike twice), then betting on the underdogs could pay off immensely.

In any case, this could end up being one of the best, most competitive, even, and mind-blowing Best of 5s of the year. Both teams love to skirmish and they're not the kind to shy away from a challenge. This means that fireworks are almost guaranteed. Both teams are insanely flexible and can play a wide variety of team comps and strategies, but our eyes are set on Bwipo, Selfmade, and Nemesis as the three players who have the potential to decide the series early on.