Fnatic vs. Misfits: 2021 LEC Summer playoffs betting analysis

William Davis Published 18/08/2021

The second elimination match of the 2021 LEC Summer Split playoffs is right around the corner between Fnatic and Misfits Gaming.

The two will clash in an intense battle for survival, and the loser will be completely out of contention for the trophy and a spot at the 2021 World Championship. The winner will move on to a best-of-five against G2 Esports where one team gets the last European spot at Worlds. With so much on the line, this match is looking to be extremely close and a nail-biter for teams and fans alike.

This matchup is looking to be one of the closest on paper after both teams had to go through a five-game series each in the first round of the playoffs. Misfits was up against Rogue in the first round of the upper bracket, where it ended much closer than expected. Misfits took its star-studded opponent to five games and Rogue really had to work hard to come out victorious.

Fnatic also had a long weekend against Vitality in the lower bracket, where the former LEC champion fought for survival right from the start. This match should have been a one-sided affair for Fnatic according to many analysts, but Vitality forced it all the way to five games. Fnatic ultimately prevailed in the final game as the players showed their experience and ability to stay cool in high-pressure situations.

The two close matches will only make this elimination match between Fnatic and Misfits more exciting. So far, it looks like both teams have clear weaknesses, but also some strengths. The question will be who can exploit them better and ultimately survive the LEC lower bracket for one more round.

In the case of Fnatic, it was all about jungler Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau in the last series against Vitality. The Belgian superstar really showcased how important he is for this Fnatic team to function. It was clear that Bwipo had to make all the plays while the rest of the Fnatic squad really wasn’t playing up to expectations. This gave Vitality a chance to come out with a win, so this can’t happen again. Unlike Vitality, Misfits will likely have enough firepower to punish a team where only one player truly shows up. Unless the likes of Elias “Upset” Lipp and Yasin “Nisqy” Dinçer are playing at their best, Fnatic will likely be looking at a tough match.

For Misfits, it has all really been about finding the last edge to get these important wins. During the regular split, Misfits paired up well against the best teams in the LEC but lost momentum when it mattered the most. The same happened against Rogue, where Misfits couldn’t close out the series despite some great performances. Even with a loss to Rogue, Misfits should still have enough confidence to take down Fnatic. Fnatic is a great squad, but it should be an easier opponent than Rogue. If Misfits can stay calm and play their own game, there’s a real chance for an upset in this match.

In general, this match will be about who is better able to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses. Fnatic is currently looking like its own biggest enemy, and several players will need to step up. Misfits will be looking to take advantage of that, but will still have to be careful as Fnatic is known to pop off on its good days.

Fnatic vs. Misfits rosters

Fnatic roster:

Top – Adam “Adam” Maanane
Jungle – Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau
Mid – Yasin “Nisqy” Dinçer
Bot – Elias “Upset” Lipp
Support – Zdravets “Hylissang” Galabov

Misfits roster:

Top – Shin “HiRit” Tae-min
Jungle – Iván “Razork” Díaz
Mid – Vincent “Vetheo” Berrié
Jungle – Kasper “Kobbe” Kobberup
Support – Oskar “Vander” Bogdan

Fnatic slightly favored against Misfits in LEC summer playoffs

With recent performances in mind, it’s clear that these teams should fight evenly on Summoner’s Rift. Both teams had to go through a five-game series during the last round of the playoffs, but only Fnatic came out victorious. This has helped them get a slight edge against Misfits according to bookmakers, but we might be looking at another five-game thriller here. Misfits managed to go toe-to-toe with Rogue and should not be underestimated by anyone. This is likely why the odds are very close in this match.

Fnatic still has a slight advantage as a win for the team gives odds 1.69. On the other side is Misfits with a bit higher odds at 2.04. In general, this is a risky match to bet on but the wisest choice would likely be to go with the underdog.