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Europe's biggest and most prestigious league is gaining momentum. LEC Winter 2024 is now in its second week.
On the first match day of the second week we will see a match between G2 Esports and MAD Lions. By the way, it's a very cheerful match, because we are waiting for a match between the teams that played at Worlds and it's not often seen.
We are trying to see if G2 Esports can prove their position as the main favourites of the winter draw and earn a win after a misfire in the first week, or if MAD Lions can make something like a sensation by beating the Samurai.
Let's go.
G2 Esports uniforms
Let's open the match with an analysis of G2 Esports' form. The Samurai will be playing the number one side in this encounter, with odds to win at around 1.4.
At the beginning of last season Samurai reached the capital of Great Britain to participate in MSI 2023 by winning the LEC Winter draw. Then G2 made it to the grand finals without much trouble, also beating MAD Lions quite easily
At LEC Spring 2023, G2 Esports played worse. They entered the play-offs of the tournament from the second match of their group, making it to the bottom of the play-offs. While there, they played against the Lions again, but were unable to repeat the success of the LEC Spring 2023: G2 Esports dropped out of the LEC Spring 2023 playoffs, but made it to the Mid-Season Invitational 2023.
- G2 Esports roster: BrokenBlade, Yike, Caps, Hans Sama, Mikyx.
Play-In for G2 Esports is successful and even easier than BLG's. G2 Esports didn't feel LOUD and easily shut down PSG Talon, beating both clubs 2-0.
Things were no longer as rosy in the Bracket Stage. In the first round, G2 Esports played Gen.G, probably the main contender for the championship title, and managed to take a card from them, which in the realities of today's competitive scene is more than good.
In the bottom set, G2 Esports met their main rival, MAD Lions. The European derby on the international stage ended with a confident victory for G2, confirming them as the best team in the LEC.
At the end of the only international event so far, G2 Esports finished in the top 6. The result is a good one.
Before the LEC Finals, the Samurai took another trophy to their headquarters. It was the trophy for the victory at LEC Summer 2023, where G2 easily defeated EXCEL in the Grand Final.
In the first round of LEC Finals 2023, G2 Esports played against Team BDS. The French gave a fight, but failed to pull more than 1 map.
G2 Esports had no problems first with MAD Lions to advance to the grand finals of LEC Finals 2023, and then in the finals they defeated Fnatic.
In the first match on the main stage of the year, G2 Esports played against Dplus. Being an outsider, the team managed to beat the titular Koreans, all thanks to Hans Sama's crowning Draven. Then they managed to beat not just anyone, but WBG, who subsequently took the top 2.
And then came the miscues, and quite serious ones at that. First they lost to Gen 0-2, then to Ledge or NRG 0-2 (which was a shocker), and finally they dropped out of Worlds 2023 after losing to Bibili Gaming.
G2 Esports will start their journey to LEC Winter 2024 with a match against BDS, one of G2's main rivals on their way to their championship. Expect a solid performance from G2. Next up will be a match against Karmine Corp, where it should be easier than the game against BDS. In fact it was, but the match with Rogue was probably the first sensation of last week, because G2 Ledgeili. Well, that's what bo1 is for.
The Samurai played the first week 2-1.
The most popular G2 Esports champions
Gragas (3 matches, 66% wins) goes to the top line.
In the forest, either Belveth (2 matches, 100% wins) or Maokai (2 games, 50% wins) or Gragas (2 matches, 50% wins).
On the centre line variety: Yasuo, Sylass, Cassiopeia, Sejuani and Yone have appeared in spades once each and won their game.
Of the shooters, Draven (3 matches, 66% wins) is playing.
On Support Nautilus (2 matches, 50% wins), Nami (2 matches, 50% wins).
MAD Lions uniform
In this match MAD Lions are playing as the number two. The odds on the Lions to win are at around 3.
In 2023 the team took 2nd place at LEC Winter 2023 and won LEC Spring 2023, which we would like to pay special attention to.
Based on the LEC Spring split, it seemed like the MAD Lions were done. "The Lions made up for the tiebreaker in the group stage and barely made it to the group stage. There with fights, sweat and blood they reached the play-offs, where in the first round in a tough Bo5 they defeated their future rival - G2 Esports, but even there the misfortunes did not end: they needed to defeat Vitality (3-1) and make Reverse Sweep against BDS in the grand final.
- MAD Lions lineup: Chasy, Elyoya, Nisqy, Carzzy, Hylissang
The Lions have a fighting roster, no doubt about it. They have proved it many times in practice, which, however, does not always lead to high performance, first of all on the international stage, but sometimes on the home stage as well.
For example, MSI 2023 and top 8 there, which is good in principle, but the result at LEC Summer 2023 is already sad. At the last LEC Championships MAD Lions, the reigning Spring Split champions, crashed out at the Top 7 position, which is clearly not the level.
LEC Finals 2023 MAD Lions started with a match against EXCEL. The opening match of the summer split against MAD Lions temporarily confirmed the thesis of a one-tournament team, losing to the "lions" with a score of 0-3 without a chance.
In the match before that, MAD Lions played against G2 Esports. Obviously, they lost, with a score of 1-3.
In the battle for a slot at the LEC Finals 2023 Grand Final, MAD Lions Ledge and Fnatic. The colourful game ended with the score 2-3 in favour of the Orange. Thus, MAD Lions qualified for the Worlds 2023 on the third quota from Europe.
"Lions" Long Sogpeg at Worlds 2023 with a loss to Cloud9 and continued their performance on the main stage of the year with a win in the European derby against BDS. In the third game, MAD Lions Ledge fought through a seemingly passable match against NRG Esports. In the decisive match at Worlds 2023, the team played against Weibo. Decisive because MAD Lions Ledge went 0-2 and crashed out of the Worlds.
MAD Lions will try to return to the top of the European League of Legends with a match against Team Heretics. It will be difficult for the Lions there, but they should win the game against SK Gaming, sort of. On the whole, it turned out to be the opposite: we beat Heretics and lost to SK Gaming. In the third match we played against Karmine Corp and it was a real extravaganza: The International ernet war between fans, about 750,000 thousand spectators at the peak and the final victory of MAD Lions.
The first week ended with a score of 2-1.
Most Popular MAD Lions Champions
Fiora (2 matches, 100% wins) and KSante (2 matches, 50% wins) appeared in the top for MAD Lions most often. Renekton (1 game, 100% wins) and Gnar (1 game and that defeat) were also taken.
Sejuani (3 matches, 66% wins) is popular in the forest. Next is Wukong with 2 appearances and 50% wins, and there was also Maokai who won his only match.
On the centre line, Viktor (1-1) and Akali (1-1) have 2 matches each. Azir and Sylas won their matches.
Among shooters Varus appeared most often (3 matches, 66% of wins). Lucian was picked 2 times (1-1) and Sivir was picked once more (1-0).
Thresh (1-1), Lulu (1-1) were picked more often than others. Nami and Ashe, who appeared 1 time each, won their matches.
History of head-to-head meetings between MAD Lions - G2 Esports
G2 Esports and MAD Lions have played each other 5 times in the last 5 games in 2023. The advantage is on the side of G2 Esports.
Predicted result of G2 Esports - MAD Lions at LEC Winter 2024
In this match we can expect an even game, but still I will believe in the success of G2. I think that with Long Sogpeg of the second week they will gain dramatically and even with an opponent of the level of MAD Lions will be able to play confidently.
Bottom line: MAD Lions win.
