MAD Lions vs Misfits

Here's a fascinating match-up: MAD Lions vs. Misfits. Now, coming into the 2020 Spring Split, no one really expected much from either rookie-filled squad. They had a fair bit of potential on paper, but that didn't have to translate to reality. Misfits, in particular, were entering 2020 without any semblance of hype or momentum after their spectacular debacle from 2019. So naturally, you'd be forgiven if you thought this was just another barely watchable clash that held no significance in the grand scheme of things.

In actuality, however, it's one of the most peculiar and must-watch games of the week. This one game could also have a huge, far-reaching effect on the playoff picture, so there's an even bigger reason to tune in. Both challengers have basically locked in their spots in the playoffs, although there's still a lot to fight for, so expect a bloody affair in which both teams fight for every inch of the Summoner's Rift.

Before we delve into the match-up itself, we need to focus a bit into the trajectory of each team. MAD Lions started the season off with a bang -- most of their players immediately made a name for themselves and were rightfully considered as the frontrunners for the "Rookie of the Split" nod. It was yet another fantastic reminder of just how deep and layered the European talent pool really is. These young lads were fighting their hearts out and were able to go blow for blow with even the most established and experienced LEC veterans out there. That's not a small accomplishment, all things considered.

They did, however, slow down a bit once the halfway point of the split came along. They were less aggressive, less proactive and dangerous without any apparent explanation or reason. You never knew which kind of MAD Lions would step foot on stage. It's not just that they were inconsistent, but also that they didn't play nor draft to their strengths as much as they could, for whatever reason.

They're currently sitting on nine wins and six losses which is the exact same record as Misfits Gaming. Again, no one's quite sure how good they currently are as they tend to surprise on a weekly basis.

Misfits Gaming, on the other hand, are perhaps an even bigger enigma. Their first week of play was abysmal, but after those two losses, they picked up the pace and started dominating beyond reason. They even had a seven game win streak! No one's still quite sure how that whole thing came about, but it's fair to say that Razork and Febiven have been hardcarrying like their lives depend on it. They might not look the part, but they're definitely a Top 3 jungle-mid duo in the LEC right now. The rest of the team, therefore, just needs to do their job and there's a big chance Misfits will be able to get the win.

Still, after that huge streak ended, Misfits never quite recovered. After their loss to Rogue (which was a fairly close game, to be fair), they didn't look the same. They then lost to Fnatic, Origen, and even Schalke 04 yesterday. Now, to be fair, most of those losses were expected, but the point still stands. Misfits Gaming deteriorated over the last couple of weeks, and no one's quite sure how good they truly are at this point in time.

Their loss to Schalke yesterday was certainly not a good sign. Febiven, in particular, played what can rightfully be deemed as his worst game of the year so far, and the rest of the team didn't look much better either. To be outclassed across the board by a struggling Schalke is probably a telling sign that something isn't right.

And so now we are left to wonder -- what'll happen today? Misfits demolished MAD Lions in week five in just twenty-six minutes. It was a dominant showing in which they obliterated their opponents without breaking a sweat, but the meta was slightly different and Misfits had a lot more hype and momentum behind their backs. It was also one of those bad Humanoid games, which pretty much sealed MAD Lions' fate.

Anything can happen in this one, and there's simply no clear-cut favorite. It all boils down to which team drafts better and executes early on. All things considered, this is as far from a safe bet as humanly possible, but we're going to side with MAD Lions on this one, primarily because they actually showed the ability to adapt mid-split and have looked just a tad better over the last couple of weeks.

That said, this game is basically a toss-up.