MAD Lions vs Fnatic Predictions: Fnatic Look More Like Their Old Selves Again

• MAD Lions face Fnatic this weekend in the LEC Summer Season 2023. Both teams have started the season well, with five wins and one loss between the two sides. 
• Fnatic have won two and lost one of their matches. They look like a much-improved side since last season, but there’s still a way to go before we can confirm that they’re title contenders.  
• MAD Lions won the Spring season in remarkable fashion last time and have started this season with three wins out of three. The bookies have MAD Lions winning this match.

MAD Lions vs Fnatic Pick

• Pick:  MAD Lions to win.   

MAD Lions vs Fnatic Predictions

Both sides come into this game in good form, so this should be an absolute cracker. MAD Lions are the defending champions, but they didn’t play like champions for most of last season. The same can’t be said for their start to this season; they’ve won all three of their matches so far. 

Fnatic, who were in recovery mode towards the end of last season, have also started the season well. Fnatic always carry massive expectations heading into any season, but they’ve had some difficult times in the last 12 months, so this recent upward curve will give them a lot of belief heading into this match and for the rest of the season. However, a loss here will pose more doubts about their resurgence. 

Fnatic have much more to lose in this match, but MAD Lions have upped their game in a way that no one would have foreseen. There isn’t a massive difference in the odds for this game, so we think it’s best to go with the side that’s got a higher probability of winning this tie: MAD Lions is that side. 

MAD Lions Have Started the Season on Fire 

MAD Lions are living up to their name. It normally shouldn’t come as a surprise when the reigning champions are leading the league table early in the season, but MAD Lions are no ordinary team. 

MAD Lions won the Spring season in the craziest fashion earlier in the year. They were a disappointment for most of the league season and finished in eighth place despite having massive expectations at the start of the campaign; they needed to play a tie-breaker just to enter the group stages. Once they got there, no one was expecting them to win a match, but they went on a remarkable run that ultimately saw them win the championship. 

Before the season started, the bookmakers didn’t really fancy them – the odds table basically suggested that last season was a fluke. But here they are, sitting at the top of the league table with three wins after three games and heading into the match against LEC giants Fnatic as the favorites. MAD Lions are the most unpredictable team in the league; G2 esports used to lay claim to that title, but MAD Lions’ 2023 has been unlike anything we’ve witnessed before. 

They aren’t lacking in talent. Bot Laner Carzzy is an LEC star.  He has averaged 4.66 kills, 2.87 deaths, and 4.85 assists per game this year. The MAD Lions are tough to crack when he's in form. Their defense can be a bit vulnerable at times, but they’ve been aggressively dismantling teams before the defense can be got at. We think they’ll have too much for a resurgent Fnatic. 

Fnatic Look More Like Their Old Selves Again 

Fnatic’s loss to G2 Esports was a timely reminder that they’re not back yet, but they’ve looked good so far this season – not as good as their upcoming opponents – but much better than the team we’ve covered for the last 12 months.

Rhuckz and wunder have been added to the side and seem to have made an impact, which is a big plus. The changes to the roster were due for a while, and it’s helped revitalize the franchise. They simply couldn’t get going at the start of last year; the environment around the team got toxic and fans were clamoring for new players. 

They don’t look like title contenders yet, but this is a good game to show how far they’ve come. A result is important, but a strong performance will do for now; it’ll show that they’re on the right track. 

As good as the new members have been, Rekkles is still the key player. He has averaged 3.88 kills, 2.04 deaths, and 4.63 assists per match this year. That average should go up as the season progresses with the help of his new teammates

Fnatic have a lot of history in this competition, and the weight of expectations should help push them, but we think that MAD Lions will be a bit too strong for them. They don’t have a player with Carzyy’s quality on the side, and it’ll not be easy stopping him, either.

The wins against Astralis and Excel were impressive, but they were expected to beat these sides. They were a level below G2 esports when they faced them, and MAD Lions are in the same bracket – some might say they’re even better. A loss might raise doubts about their improvement, but we’ve got a sample size that goes back to last season; they’re clearly a lot better, and the mood around the camp is also a lot better. 

Ultimately, there isn’t a lot of value in picking Fnatic for this match, even though the bookies don’t fancy them for this match, so it’s best to pick MAD Lions for the win. 

How to Watch MAD Lions vs Fnatic

• Teams: MAD Lions vs Fnatic
• Location: United States of America
• Time: Sunday, June 25, 2023
• How to watch: Twitch