The first weekend of the LEC saw the league get off to a thrilling start. With a bumper week of fixtures in week 1, we head back into normal service in week 2 with just the two matches per side. Two sides came out on top with 3-0 records after the first series of matches, with G2 Esports and Rogue looking like two of the top sides already. Misfits sit on 2-1 while the rest of the league sits on 1-2, meaning seven sides occupy the 4th spot.
Excel Esports v MAD Lions
While Excel is one of the sides to be sitting on 1-2, they did lose to both Rogue and G2, while picking up a win against Vitality. Excel will feature against MAD Lions and Astralis this week and it could prove pivotal to their true form. Excel did not look out of place against the top two, so a solid showing in week two could see Excel make a surprise early run up the table. We have Excel as 5/4 outsiders in their series against MAD Lions.
As for MAD Lions, it wasn’t the best start to 2021. While, like Excel, they lost to favourites G2 Esports, they also lost on the third day to Misfits, a result which went against the grain for many fans. This weekend will see MAD come up against Excel and Fnatic, two difficult matches that if they lose could be disastrous for the Spanish side. We have MAD Lions as 5/8 favourites to take down Excel and begin their climb up the table.
Rogue v Misfits Gaming
After an excellent week one, which saw Rogue go 3-0, a second winning weekend could see Rogue put their stamp on the Spring Split at an early stage. While the second series against Vitality should be an easy fixture, Rogue will come up against a Misfits side which finds themselves in third place after the opening weekend. Rogue are our favourites at 10/27 as they look to keep the pressure on G2.
After being one of the surprise sides in week one, Misfits Gaming finds themselves in a spot which could see them make an early break on the top of the table. While a loss to Vitality saw them not end on a perfect weekend, they did manage to take down Fnatic and MAD Lions. Week two will offer up a much harder set of fixtures, however, with the Rogue game likely to be the toughest of the lot. We have them at 2/1 outsiders to take down Rogue.
Fnatic v MAD Lions
Fnatic did not have the opening week their new roster would have wanted, thankfully they picked up a big win on the final day to avoid going 0-3, however, it looked rough at times for the former LEC champions as the roster struggled to find its feet. Partially due to MAD’s poor start, Fnatic is 4/6 favourites for the Saturday fixture, though all eyes will be on the team’s Friday game to see how Fnatic might bounce back from week one.
MAD Lions face a tough weekend of matches, and their day two match against Fnatic might see them in a rough spot. We have them as 6/5 outsiders, but it will all depend on if Fnatic can build on their day 3 win in week one or if that was just a lucky break. MAD Lions likely needs to get at least one victory in week two, and if they fall to Excel on day one the series against Fnatic could see them in a desperate situation.