The second week of the 2021 LEC Spring Split is finally here, so let’s go over a couple of predictions — starting with Rogue vs. Team Vitality! Now, coming into 2021, you’d be forgiven if you thought that a clash between these two teams would be nothing more than a one-sided beatdown in favor of Rogue. In fact, everyone felt that way. But for one reason or another, no one’s expecting such a thing any longer, now that we’ve actually seen both teams in action. Simply put, Vitality has been looking mighty strong lately and there’s a good reason why.
Rogue vs. Team Vitality Predictions
And, really, the level of play we’ve seen from them thus far has been nothing short of amazing. Of course, they’re no G2 Esports (nor are they Rogue, for that matter), but given what most of us predicted coming into the season, they’re doing astonishingly well.
No, really — it defies reason. It doesn’t make any sense no matter how we slice it. In fact, they have the second-best early game rating out of all competing teams. There is a problem, however, and that’s the one team that’s currently ranked above them in that same category: Rogue.
And that’s evident stats-wise as well. They go from being the second most dominant team early on (in a region ripe with dominant early game teams) to the absolute worst when the mid game comes around. They don’t know what to do with their leads. It’s like they’re surprised they have them in the first place and, well, so are we. Now sure, we can definitely excuse their lack of experience, but if they don’t learn how to harness and capitalize off of their biggest strength, then they won’t stand much of a chance going forward. After all, of what use is a strong start if you can’t leverage it?
A Brand-New Contender
Rogue, on the other hand, have looked downright incredible last week. Heck, maybe that’s even an understatement. Other than G2 Esports, they’re the only team that didn’t showcase even a single exploitable weakness. They’re incredibly confident and they have every right to be. They can play (and win) through any lane, they can draft nearly any team comp and still execute to a tee, they can win through team fighting, split-pushing, individual talent and mechanical prowess, or through calculated macro — they can do it all. They are, in a way, “baby G2.” Of course they’re still not as good or capable as the defending LEC champions, but they’re undeniably the second best team in the LEC right now.
Whether they’ll win or not, however, is a topic for another time and place (hint: not a chance), but they’ll at least compete on even footing. Right now, however, they need to deal with a surprisingly feisty Team Vitality, and they should not underestimate them whatsoever. Fortunately, if they don’t fool around too much, they shouldn’t have any trouble in emerging victorious. They’re better than Vitality in every possible sense, and that should be evident on the Summoner’s Rift as well — regardless of team comp and strategy employed.
That said, don’t expect the boys in black and yellow to go down without a fight. They’re not that kind of team, which means we should be in for one heck of a game!