FC Schalke 04 vs Origen

For our third match of the day we have an absolute must watch, regardless of your allegiance. In essence, this is a clash between a Top 3 challengers who's looking to dethrone G2 Esports, and a mid-tier gatekeeper who's just getting into the swing of things.

Perhaps most importantly, this is a fight between two highly talented, mechanically gifted, and exceedingly aggressive contenders. They're not equal in strength or potential, but they're both looking to make a statement. Origen, for one, wants to end the first week 2-0 and continue building on their solid foundation. Schalke, on the other hand, still want to get their first win after dropping a hectic skirmish-heavy game against Excel yesterday.

Origen didn't waste much time upon entering the 2020 season. Their win over Fnatic wasn't just *any* game -- it was a statement. They obliterated the former "kings of Europe" with staggering ease and made it look like they were fighting against a bottom-tier dweller, instead of a top-tier team. Now, it's impossible to know whether things looked that because Fnatic failed to get on the same page or if Origen are really that good at this point in time. In any case, Origen looked like a bona fide titan, like a well-oiled machine from start to finish and they certainly made the region take notice.

Alphari, in particular, played out of his mind on Gankplank, often outplaying in 1v2 situations and constantly pressuring across the map. His split-pushing presence elevated Origen and was one of their biggest strengths throughout the game. The rest of the team was also exceptional, and it was their surprising synergy that caught us all off guard -- Fnatic included.

Schalke, on the other hand, was both hot and cold yesterday. There was a lot to like, with Odoamne and Abbedagge getting solo kills over their lane opponents, but as a whole, they didn't look that good. They had a solid lead and made nothing of it, and were eventually outscaled by Excel's stellar late-game team comp. The majority of Schalke's picks couldn't do much in the heat of battle after Mickey's "Windwall" and Braum's "Unbreakable" -- two shields that basically sealed Schalke's fate.

Not all is grim for the veteran-filled roster, however. There's a lot to like, and they have many tools within their arsenal. With a couple of improvements here and there, they're bound to become a solid mid-tier contender and a lock for the playoffs. That unfortunately won't happen tonight as they're up against what can rightfully be deemed as the second best team in the region at the moment. Origen are better and more dangerous lane for lane and have displayed a commendable understanding of the meta and its many layers.

While Schalke might be able to fight a bit harder than most people expect, Origen should have no issue on closing things out. In any case, watching these two teams clash on the Summoner's Rift should provide us with a metric ton of entertainment.