MAD Lions KOI vs Fnatic

Can the Spanish Squad knock Fnatic right down to the loser’s bracket within the LEC Match of the Week?

The LEC 2024 Winter Playoffs formally start tomorrow, with solely 8 one of the best groups competing for the title of Winter Champion! Although Karmine Corp had a little bit of a resurgence of their final 2 matches, them and Rogue needed to go away the competitors early attributable to not scoring sufficient wins.

Nevertheless, G2 Esports, Fnatic, Staff Heretics, Staff Vitality, Staff BDS, SK Gaming and MAD Lions KOI are nonetheless within the run for the trophy (defend?) of the primary cut up of the 2024 LEC circuit – with MAD Lions KOI going through Fnatic in what appears to be essentially the most thrilling Bo3 of the primary spherical!

LEC Match of the Week Preview: MAD Lions KOI vs Fnatic

Can Noah and Jun Rise to the Event?

Although Fnatic achieved a good 5-4 scoreline by the tip of the Common Season, they nonetheless had some weaker performances – particularly in opposition to Staff BDS. Whereas it wasn’t a specific participant’s fault as each member of the workforce had quieter video games, the most important outlier of FNC was their botlane: Noah and Jun.

Whereas Jun has been doing properly – even spectacular on picks like Blitzcrank and Renata Glasc – he solely has a superb synergy with Noah to date, probably not skirmishing the map with Razork or pulling some cheeky ganks on mid and toplane. Noah however elevated himself to a Kalista major as an alternative of an Aphelios one like he was final season, however fell into the identical lure as earlier than. If he’s not on his most well-liked champions, he doesn’t appear to have that a lot affect, even when he had one of many higher wanting Lucians of the LEC.

Whereas Supa and Alvaro usually are not good both, Supa DID carry MAD Lions KOI in opposition to Karmine Corp, Rogue and Staff Vitality as properly. Alvaro has additionally been eager to work outdoors of botlane, which provides extra flexibility to MDK on this regard.

The Spanish Showdown within the Jungle

Whereas Elyoya is THE title of the MAD Lions KOI workforce, he hasn’t been doing in addition to one would anticipate. Paradoxically, the rookies do the heavy lifting greater than Yoya – but when he will get Xin Zhao, he turns into an unstoppable power.

In the meantime, Razork is just not as reliant on one champion as Elyoya is, and whereas he additionally prefers the Xin, he may be placed on Sejuani responsibility, and may affect the sport even when he falls behind within the early sport – or offers up First Blood. That is one thing that Elyoya did not showcase to date, and his Nocture match is the proper instance for that: although his toplaner was forward, he select to provoke when Myrwn was nowhere close to his workforce, which price MDK just a few teamfights and in the end the sport.

Razork can be able to carrying as he confirmed on a number of events final week, and whereas we haven’t seen him unleashed this 12 months to date, he’s at all times able to take up the carry place, which may very well be one thing MAD Lions KOI struggles in opposition to.

Who will win: MAD Lions KOI or Fnatic?

Although Fnatic is among the many LEC groups that DO have a superb early sport, they often fail to play for goals, normally giving up Dragons in favour of Void Grubs – however not following up with Herald, lacking out on half the snowball impact the Baron-side goals supply. Nevertheless, they do get their lanes forward by securing First Bloods due to Razork and with nice laning phases by Humanoid and Oscarinin, and in the event that they get rolling they have a tendency to win, as they solely misplaced 1 match after they had been forward by the 15-minute mark.

Nevertheless, MAD Lions KOI debuted as steamrollers versus Staff Heretics, taking the lead early and by no means letting it go. Whereas their hyper-aggression didn’t work in opposition to each workforce within the LEC, it tends to shock much more skilled gamers. Additionally they confirmed that they’ll play calm and picked up of their final common season match: drafting conservatively, taking part in gradual then taking on the sport with good macro selections. Whereas they’ve room to develop on this regard, flexibility is at all times a superb workforce.

And versatile they’re due to their secret weapon, Myrwn. A participant that picks Varus and Fiddlesticks prime within the LEC – and succeeds with them – is unhinged to say the least, and whereas Oscarinin has a stable laning part, he may not have the ability to take care of Myrwn’s surprises.

One factor that ideas the scales in Fnatic’s favour is their midlaner, Humanoid. Whereas Fresskowy has proved to be an important participant previously weeks, Humanoid is in nice kind, and if he prompts within the early sport, he may make life hell for Fresskowy.

MAD Lions KOI vs Fnatic will come down to 2 issues: the type of Noah and Humanoid on the facet of Fnatic, whereas the psychological fortitude of Elyoya in MDK. If the Fnatic gamers are on their finest efficiency (which needs to be a given in a Playoff match), they may take this 2-1, however MAD Lions KOI has an actual probability to take them down as properly.

The LEC Match of the Week will happen this Sunday at 20:00 CET – don’t miss out on it, in addition to ESTNN’s different content material in regards to the LEC!