Astralis – NiP

CS:GO - ESL Pro League Group A

Currently, Astralis is showcasing a remarkable performance. In my view, they possess immense potential to emerge as one of the top teams globally and, at the present moment, they are far superior to NIP.

Let's start by recalling the most recent major tournament where both Astralis and NiP participated - IEM Cologne. I observed a substantial disparity between the two teams. Astralis, with their revamped roster, adopted an aggressive approach, exhibited a solid structure, had a blend of young and experienced players, and notably, Dev1ce seemed brimming with confidence - ultimately leading to their success.

Consider this: their journey commenced from the Play-in stage, and they achieved an impressive 3-4th place finish, which commands respect. They overcame a formidable opponent like Liquid, triumphed against a well-organized Heroic, and even bested some strong tier 2 teams (including NiP, by the way). Their only loss came against G2, who were in an exceptional form and clinched the tournament. This rapid improvement in Astralis' performance is truly commendable, making them genuine contenders against top-tier teams.

It's heartening to witness Dev1ce performing like his prime days. His resurgence is undoubtedly one of the comebacks of the year, especially considering his benching and personal challenges. He truly deserves a spot among the best.

Now, let's talk about Buzz - this young player holds immense potential. He displayed no signs of stage fright and demonstrated the capability to take control of the game and steer it to victory. This is precisely what Astralis needed - a young talent hungry for success. When we reflect on players like Lucky, who often seemed held back by fear of mistakes, Buzz stands on a different level altogether.

Shifting the focus to NiP - they still boast talented players. However, something seems amiss. HeadTrick, NiP's emerging star, is giving his all, but it falls short. Certainly, they can comfortably triumph over tier 2.5-tier 3 teams. However, when facing formidable opponents, their teamwork and coordination crumble. They were defeated by Astralis at Cologne with a 0-2 scoreline and encountered difficulties against weaker teams like Imperial and Mouz. It's doubtful that they managed to rectify their mistakes within a two-week span.

In my perspective, Astralis currently possesses better mental fortitude, a stronger map pool, and I anticipate they'll encounter no issues in their initial series in EPL. I believe NiP has little to offer beyond individual skills. Hence, I foresee Astralis securing a straightforward victory in this matchup.