ESL Pro League: Astralis - Spirit

[Lucas]

16.08.2021 - 20:00 CET

Finally! Counter-Strike action is back after month long summer break!

ESL Pro League start it's season #14 and I'm here to catch some fishes. Legendary Danish team Astralis is slightly an underdog here by esportsbooks (which would be something unimaginable one year back) and we can find some reasons, but I skip the bet on match winner in Best of 3 format.

I'm going for OVER in this match, here are my points:

• This is online league, suits more to Spirit
• Team Spirit is in great shape with same team players for 6 months (and 4 players 2+ years together)
• Astralis always take time between tournaments seriously and come back stronger
• Astralis are still looking for a sniper, as their superstar device left for Swedish NiP
• Their new sniper is Lucky (from Danish team Tricked), but we don't know if he will perform tomorrow, he's benched atm.

This match is absolutely 50:50 in my eyes and even the potential maps shows this could be 3 maps game easily:

• Astralis should win: Inferno, Nuke, Vertigo
• Spirit should win: Dust 2, Mirage, Overpass, maybe even Ancient
• Astralis should ban Dust 2 first
• Spirit should ban Vertigo first

I think with both teams having 2 remaining maps to choose from, there is a good possibilty of third map decider.

My pick:
Over 2,5 maps @ 1,83

 

[Lucas]

Dust 2: Astralis 11-16 Spirit
Inferno: Astralis 16-6 Spirit
Ancient: I don't care, BET OK, i go to sleep

(Ancient should be pretty equal, fingers crossed for Astralis)

UPDATE: Ancient: Astralis 16-7 Spirit, 2-1 final score.