Team Vitality vs Astralis

It's hard to get excited for such a mismatch — Astralis are definitely better than expected, but they're still one of the worst teams in Europe, and have done next to nothing so as to warrant our benefit of the doubt.

So, frankly, most folks tuning in will do so either because they have nothing else to do or are dying to see Vitality back in action. Most of us, the ones who are in love with competitive League, fall solely within the latter category. And, by the looks of it, the grunt of the community is all aboard the Team Vitality hype train. The fact that they had beaten both MAD Lions and G2 — the current and former LEC champions — speaks volumes about their inherent talent and ability to perform. They're still volatile, mind you, but whenever they "click" it's like watching poetry in motion. Will they be able to keep it up throughout the remainder of the split? Who knows! If history is any indication, we'd be inclined to reply with a fairly resounding "no" but that doesn't mean *this* particular Vitality line-up will falter in much the same fashion as the ones that came before it.

They're capable and surprisingly cohesive, too, despite playing as a unit for just a couple of weeks. The fact that they could not only go toe to toe with more seasoned line-ups but even win out more often than not is simply astounding. One has to wonder: how high will they able to climb once all is said and done? Could they, potentially, challenge for the LEC throne? Our initial gut reaction is "of course not," but stranger things have happened on European soil. Take MAD Lions, for example — they have no business being as good as they are, especially when compared to teams like Fnatic and G2. And yet here they are, clicking heads and taking names like it's nobody's business. They're hungry, young, brash, and incredibly talented — much like Vitality. We're still somewhat shocked that they've been able to ascend the ranks with such ease (and at such a rapid pace too).

They're a shoo-in for the playoffs and should, by all means, be able to compete for near the very top of the standings. Astralis simply don't stand a chance. They're not to be trifled with, in all fairness, as they've performed a lot better than anyone thought was possible, but they're still a bottom-feeder and that won't change any time soon (if ever).