Fnatic and G2 Esports were the biggest winners of LEC’s week 5, getting two key wins to bring them closer to securing a playoff spot. Excel Esports, meanwhile, had a harsh reality check as they lost in two heavily contested games. With the end of the season looming, every game counts!
The LEC continued this weekend with the start of the second round robin. Misfits Gaming and Rogue were the top two teams in the first part of the split, but with Fnatic looking like a top-tier team, G2 Esports showing signs of revival and MAD Lions eager to defend their title, it was still anyone’s game to win.
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Rogue Defeat Misfits in Friday Showdown
SK Gaming continued their ascent, beating FC Schalke 04 Esports in the opening match of the weekend. The game was quite even until a series of well-played teamfights in the mid-game gave SK a growing lead and, eventually, the second win of the split.
Excel Esports, meanwhile, had a very contested fight against MAD Lions. Despite the champions getting a 15-minute ace and a Baron, Excel’s scaling and a fed Draven for Patrik "Patrik" Jírů made the game close. It took 37 minutes for MAD to get the decisive fight and put XL down.
Game three saw Fnatic not just win - they made a statement against Team Vitality as one of the best early game teams in Europe. The veteran squad won skirmish after skirmish until 25 minutes in they had the Baron, an ocean soul and a 11K gold lead. Vitality tried to fight back, but all they could manage was one successful defense before Fnatic rolled them over.Rogue took on Misfits Gaming in the highly anticipated game. The spring finalists had the stronger start, getting a gold lead despite losing the first blood. The game stayed close for a while, until a 3-0 and a Baron 32 minutes in let Rogue push in for the win. In the last Friday match. Astralis tried to challenge G2 Esports. However, despite a good start for AD Carry Jesper "Jeskla" Strömberg G2 got ahead and extended their lead. Astralis found no way to contain Rasmus "Caps" Winther and Martin "Wunder" Hansenand eventually G2’s advantage proved too much.bwipo cam pic.twitter.com/mxRADC9eSM
— LEC (@LEC) July 9, 2021
Rekkles Blows Up Rogue's Win Streak in Match of the Week
Team Vitality faced SK Gaming in the first Sunday game. The French squad was in control from nearly the start of the game and kept pushing forward. Their vision control strangled SK’s poke comp and in the end, they scored a much-needed win.
FC Schalke 04 Esports took on MAD Lions in the next match. Schalke looked to have a good game going, slowly going ahead until it all came apart at the Baron, where MAD got three kills and the objective. The spring champions fully took over the game, getting two aces and ending the game in the next several minutes.
Misfits Gaming came in as heavy favorites against Astralis. After a teamfight 13 minutes in gave the favorites an early ace, it seemed like smooth sailing. However, Astralis hit back in the mid-game, winning several fights and even breaking in to the Misfits base. They were still behind when a teleport by Carl Felix "MagiFelix" Boström allowed him to backdoor the base and steal the win.
Excel Esports once more proved to be a tough nut to crack with a very competitive game against Fnatic. Even after securing an infernal soul, Fnatic had their hands full and nearly lost the game once Excel got the elder drake and pushed into the base. It came down to one last showdown 34 minutes in, where Elias "Upset" Lipp’s Aphelios was able to pile on the damage and Fnatic got the telling ace.
G2 Esports had a good start in their showdown against Rogue, playing an impressive early game, and it only got better as time went on. Rogue were unable to find a way back into the game and G2 shut them down in a very one-sided game. Martin "Rekkles" Larsson scored his 2000th kill in passing, ending with an 11/1/3 score on his Tristana.
The #LEC Summer Season standings after Week 5!1) #FNCWIN (8-3)-) #RGEWIN (8-3)3) #MADWIN (7-4)-) #MSFWIN (7-4)5) #G2WIN (6-5)6) #ASTWIN (5-6)-) #VITWIN (5-6)8) #XLWIN (4-7)9) #S04WIN (3-8)10) #SKWIN (2-9)
— LEC (@LEC) July 10, 2021
Read More:
- 100 Thieves and Evil Genius Go 3-0 This Weekend
- At Summer Midpoint, Rogue, Misfits Are on Top of the LEC
- LoL Patch 11.15 Preview
The LEC continues next Friday with a match between a Misfits Gaming eager to remain in the top of the table and the very competitive Excel Esports. For more League of Legends news and analysis, check our coverage at earlygames.com and follow our facebook page!