MAD Lions vs exceL

This is a truly interesting clash, not just because the MAD Lions have a reason to tryhard and make a statement, but also because EXCEL have what it takes to give the defending champions a run for their money. It is by no means a fight between two equals, but it'll nonetheless be an entertaining scrap -- one you should definitely tune in to.

It's no secret that the boys in white and gold have lost a bit of steam after getting smacked around by Rogue last week. The fact that they struggled mightily against Astralis the day after only made things worse. Losing to Rogue is by no means the be-all and end-all, but barely beating a winless Astralis? That's simply not a good look, especially for a team that had left such a positive impression at the very start of the competitive season.

They have a metric ton of potential -- of that we're all aware -- but they still need to find a way to harness and fully realize it. That's the hard part. Potential in and of itself means very little if it is not utilized appropriately. Fortunately, EXCEL Esports are by no means a towering giant, so MAD should definitely be able to get another win on the board and correct course.

Speaking of EXCEL, they've yet again made headlines for all the wrong reasons: letting go of Advienne at this early point of the season is simply baffling. Unacceptable, even. And it is made even worse once you factor in that their biggest "narrative" -- the one they themselves brought into existence -- was a supposed plan to rebuild around him and Markoon, two very talented young players who had shown a ton of promise. EXCEL have done their players dirty a million times and, well, we've all gotten accustomed to it. They want to stand the best chance of winning, but at what cost? Bringing in Mikyx will, indeed, give them a better shot against the many LEC giants, but it's nothing more than a "stopgap" solution when the rest of the team is so limited in potential and talent.

One great change (or addition, rather) isn't going to suddenly turn EXCEL into a playoff contender or a veritable world-beater. That's just not how it works. It will make them more competitive, though, which can be considered as a plus.

Either way, they're just not good enough to compete with the likes of MAD Lions, but they'll nonetheless give them a run for their money. Mikyx is an absolute legend, but without any concrete synergy with the rest of his team, he's not going to be doing any miracles any time soon.