The match between Astralis and GamerLegion in the group stage of ESL Pro League Season 22 promises to be tense, as both teams approach the clash with a 1-1 record in their pool. For Astralis, this is a chance to solidify their status as favorites and move closer to advancing, while GamerLegion need a victory to stay in contention and prove they can compete with stronger opponents.
How the Bookmakers See It: Astralis as Favorites
Bookmakers favor Astralis, relying on their more stable form and their victory in the most recent head-to-head match against GamerLegion. The Danish team has a stronger map pool with high win rates on Nuke and Ancient, while their opponents have shown instability and weak results on key maps. The market expectations are straightforward: Astralis should control the flow of the series and secure the win, while GamerLegion’s only real chance for an upset lies in performing well on their own map pick.
Current Form of Astralis: What to Expect from Astralis
Astralis come into ESL Pro League Season 22 in relatively stable form. Over the past three months, the team has played 55 maps, winning 29 of them — a balanced performance of wins and losses. In August, the squad took part in FISSURE Playground 2, finishing 5–8th.
- Astralis roster: dev1ce, Staehr, jabbi, HooXi, Magisk
In their last five matches, Astralis won three — against Fluxo, GamerLegion, and Legacy — but lost to ENCE and FURIA. This shows that the Danes can confidently secure victories against teams of similar or lower level, though they still struggle against top-tier opponents.
Current Form of GamerLegion: What to Expect from GamerLegion
GamerLegion appear less stable. Over the last three months, they played 46 maps and won only 23. The last month was rough: 9–12th place at BLAST Open London 2025 and 9–11th at FISSURE Playground 2.
- GamerLegion roster: ztr, Tauson, PR, REZ, hypex
In their last five matches, GamerLegion managed just two wins — against NRG and 3DMAX — while suffering defeats against Inner Circle, G2, and Astralis. This record suggests the team has yet to find consistent form against stronger opponents.
Astralis Map Pool
Astralis usually start by banning Dust2, which is their weakest map. Their go-to picks are Nuke (17 times played, 65% win rate) and Ancient (6 times played, 67% win rate), which they use to control series. Inferno is also an option, played 9 times with a decent 56% win rate. As their second ban, Astralis are most likely to remove Overpass to limit their opponent’s choices. Overall, their strategy revolves around leaning on their strongest maps — Nuke or Ancient — where they enjoy high chances of success.
GamerLegion Map Pool
GamerLegion often ban Dust2, but in this series it makes more sense for them to remove Mirage, where they hold a 0% win rate. Their primary pick could be Inferno, which they’ve played 10 times with a 50% win rate. Ancient, despite frequent appearances, looks like a risky choice due to just a 44% win rate. Their second ban could be Train, to avoid unpredictable outcomes. As a result, Ancient would likely remain as the decider map, where both teams approach it differently, though Astralis clearly hold the edge.
Head-to-Head Record
In the past six months, the teams have met only once — at FISSURE Playground 2. Astralis won that series 2–0. On Overpass, the Danes claimed a 13:9 victory, followed by a 13:10 win on Nuke. This once again highlighted Astralis’ superiority on key maps and their confidence when playing against GamerLegion.
Prediction for Astralis vs GamerLegion: ESL Pro League S22 Stage 1
Astralis boast stronger overall form as well as head-to-head results. Their confidence on Nuke and Ancient could prove decisive. GamerLegion can fight back on Inferno, but their overall inconsistency and weaknesses on other maps are a major concern.
Prediction: Astralis to win 2–1.
