Rogue vs MAD Lions

This is where things get a lot more interesting and, potentially, chaotic. We have two exceptional teams, both of which are well-equipped to trade blows and compete on the highest of levels; a spectacular Best of 5, therefore, is all but guaranteed. Who'll come out on top, however, is pretty much impossible to predict.

These two are separated by excruciatingly slim margins. They are, in fact, the next "breed of LEC talent," and have been trading blows for quite a while now. They're somewhat dissimilar stylistically speaking, but are nonetheless at the peak of their powers and are amongst the very best and most capable teams the LEC has to offer. Still, they, too, have had their fair share of ups and downs, and much of the same can be said for the vast majority of their peers as well.

The LEC pantheon, at least right now, is sort of a mess.

G2 Esports are, presumably, still the number one team, but MAD and Rogue aren't far behind -- if at all. It all depends and hinges around their preparation and ability to execute on the day and in the given moment. That's when things most often fall apart. Both MAD and Rogue have generally been very clutch throughout the course of the regular season, but that doesn't mean they'll thrive as much in the far more challenging (and physically taxing) Best of 5 setting.

First of all, let's talk about the former two-time LEC champions. Their momentous turnaround has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. Ever since Nisqy joined the team the MAD Lions have evolved in the most mind-blowing of ways. That much is a fact, and it's a pretty darn obvious one, too! Everyone else stepped up as well: Armut is once again playing as well as he did back in 2021, Elyoya is still at the peak of his powers (and is, therefore, one of the very best junglers in all of Europe) and much of the same can be said for UNFORGIVEN and Kaiser, too -- they're amongst the most dominant bottom lane duos in the entirety of the LEC.

That's... quite an impressive feat given whom they have for opposition!

This MAD Lions bunch is astoundingly cohesive and they have the record to prove it, too: a whopping twelve wins and just six losses, most of which came at the very start of the split. That's a 67% win rate, matched only by the incumbent champions G2 Esports. That being said, they're 0W-2L against Rogue this split and that, in short, probably isn't a coincidence. They were close to winning, granted, but being "close" doesn't really matter -- history isn't kind of favorable towards those who "nearly" get the job done.

Whether that'll be any different in a Best of 5 setting still remains to be seen, but we're wary of what might happen once these two giants step foot on stage to compete. There are simply too many variables at play here, so many unknowns, so many question marks and moments of doubt.

Rogue are always dangerous until the going gets rough. That's when they start to fall apart, and it happens like clockwork, too -- we know it's coming. The closer they get towards realizing their goal the more they start fumbling and making mistakes. Their "mental game" isn't particularly impressive and, frankly, that's a truly debilitating issue that probably hasn't been addressed and ameliorated over the last few months.

The MAD Lions, on the other hand, are always clutch. They, too, tend to make egregious mistakes at the most random of moments, but at least there's some rhyme and reason behind it all -- they slip and make a bad judgment call after which they go back to the drawing board and make sure never to repeat it again. In other words: it is a by-product of their growth. Any time a team gets assembled these "rookie-like" mistakes are bound to happen. They're trying stuff out, experimenting, and, well, we wouldn't have it any other way. If they don't know where their limits are they'll never be able to push and challenge themselves.

Rogue are a truly dangerous team, but they haven't been all that commanding lately. In fact, they were only able to win three of their last eight games. That's... quite underwhelming, all things considered. The fact that they lost to BDS, SK Gaming, Astralis, and Misfits only further complicates things. Were these just moments of weakness? Temporary slip-ups or, perhaps, an indication that they're not as good as we expected them to be?

Regardless of what the answer might be, it's definitely a reason for worry. These losses don't necessarily mean they'll lose to MAD next week but it *is* a sign that things aren't quite right with the boys in blue, and that is precisely what may well end up making a world of difference against the former two-time LEC champions.

Expect a skirmish-heavy, five-game spectacle.