Fnatic vs exceL

Let's not waste any more time than necessary: Fnatic are currently one of the most dangerous and best-performing teams in Europe. They fight with such fervor and zest, it's mind-blowing, really, and watching them compete has quickly become an absolute must, regardless of your allegiance. They're not perfect, of course, but they're all on the same page and they always want to engage, skirmish, and flex over their opposition.

They don't always accomplish these things, frankly speaking, but at least they try no matter the odds. Bwipo's performance jungle hasn't been MVP-worthy, but he's been pretty darn good given the broader context. Moreover, their bottom lane duo has been doing a ton of heavy lifting, and -- should they keep this up -- it's easy to envision a world in which they once again challenge for a spot in the Top 3 and, by proxy, the World Championship. They've been *that* dominant and commanding, and it seemingly came out of nowhere. Their first two losses to MAD Lions and Misfits Gaming definitely made us worried, but the fashion in which they bounced back — with wins over Rogue and Vitality, no less — has erased all doubt. They're exceptional in more ways than one, and even though they don't always deliver (despite having all the right tools to do so), they're still a supremely dangerous challenger, especially when they get in "the zone" and start throwing wild haymakers.

EXCEL Esports, on the other hand, aren't exactly a bottom-tier dweller, but they're not far off, either. The thing is, the gap between the top and the bottom of the standings has shrunk quite a bit. XL won't be challenging the LEC status quo any time soon (if ever), but they're not to be trifled with, that's for sure. Whether they'll give Fnatic a run for their money still remains to be seen, but they very well might, should they draft well and start things off on the right foot.

In the end, we simply have to go with Fnatic on this one, although it's worth mentioning that they're still a bit too volatile for our liking. You're never quite certain whether they'll come out the gates swinging or implode at the first sign of trouble, but we've seen their highs and we were not left indifferent. So, as a result, we'll give them our benefit of the doubt±