G2 Esports vs FC Schalke 04

G2 Esports vs. Schalke 04 isn't exactly the definition of a premier match-up. Heck, it's not even close. Still, it's interesting enough to warrant our time and attention, even though we all know how things will ultimately resolve. Simply put, whenever G2 Esports are playing — in a Best of 5, no less — we're always talking about a foregone conclusion. They're just too darn good at League of Legends. There's no other way to put it, and we've yet to fully assess and "capture" their potential in writing despite watching them flex over their opposition for so many years. Every time we feel like we've finally grasped who they are and how much they're "worth," they always find a way to subvert our expectations and find a brand new of way of blowing our minds.

That's G2 Esports in a nutshell, and we should be honored and glad for the fact that we're bearing witness to such an incredible dynasty. Teams as potent and layered and capable as G2 only come every so often, and 2021 might be the very last time we get to see this particular line-up run circles around their opposition. So, if you've got the time, this is pretty much an absolute must-watch, regardless of your allegiance!

Telling you that G2 are favored would be like telling someone the sky's blue or that water's wet. It's a no-brainer. It is a fact of life, one that we're all well-acquainted with. So we'll take that bit of information as granted, and consider it an omnipresent factoid.

So, instead, let's pose the opposite question: do Schalke 04 stand a chance? In short, the answer would be a wholly confident (and quite brash) "no." Heck, we can even reformulate it and say "not in a million years." And even when we say such a thing, there's always this lingering fear in the back of our minds, not because G2 *aren't* as good as everyone thinks but because they often tend to fool around and experiment a bit too much. They know they're better, and they've proven it on so many different occasions in the past. So why not pull out a Soraka top? Why not test their limits and see just how big of a deficit they can come back from? That's what we're always fearing. We know they're better and *they* know it too. But sometimes they get too "unhinged" so to speak, and -- depending on whom they're up against -- it tends to come at price.

Regardless, even with G2 potentially going for troll team comps and cheesy strats, they should still be more than able to get the win over Schalke and proceed further into the playoffs. They are, after all, the front-runners to win the whole split, and anything other than such a conclusion will automatically be deemed as a scandal and an upset for the ages.

Finally, it's not like Schalke are a bottom-tier dweller. They might not be all that much better, but they're definitely a feisty challenger that's also surprisingly creative. They're the kind of team that's well-worth your attention as they fight for every inch of the Summoner's Rift to the best of their ability. Although, frankly, they rarely conquer any said inch, but at least they try their hardest; watching them compete is always a true pleasure. And who knows, maybe they'll pull out another Karthus + Nocturne team comp (or something similar) and give G2 a run for their money? It's certainly within the realm of possibility!