LEC 2019 Semifinals Odds & Preview: Fnatic vs FC Schalke 04
- The lone LEC Semifinal match takes place on September 7th from Athens, Greece
- The winner will advance to take on G2 Esports in the grand finals the very next day
- G2 Esports reverse swept Fnatic in the second round of the playoffs to secure their spot in the finals
Fnatic and FC Schalke 04 will face off in the only LEC semifinal to determine who will face G2 Esports in the grand finals. G2 Esports is the only European team to have already booked their tickets to Worlds 2019.
Betting Odds for Fnatic vs. FC Schalke 04
| Team | Odds to Win | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Fnatic | -600 | O 3.5 (-180) |
| FC Schalke 04 | +320 | U 3.5 (+120) |
*Odds taken 09/03/19
Can Fnatic Recover From Getting Reverse Swept?
It looked like Fnatic had figured out the seemingly unstoppable titans. G2 esports had ran through the LEC summer split with ease and did so with their cocky and arrogant playstyle. They experimented with bizarre picks and compositions and still ended up with a 15-3 record. In their second round playoff match against Fnatic, they didn’t look like themselves and Fnatic had them on the ropes. The opening two games weren’t close as Fnatic jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to their use of global ultimates.
For a while, game three looked no different but G2 found their fights and fought back into the series before stomping Fnatic in the final two games. Fnatic got reverse swept and will have to shake off the tough loss going into their match with FC Schalke 04.
They already showed that they can compete with the MSI Champions, however they might be limited by their small champion pool. Once G2 adjusted and banned Twisted Fate away from Nemesis, the series took a 180.
It looks like Fnatic showed most of their cards against G2 so going into their series against Schalke, they’ll have to go back to the drawing board for some fresh strategies.
Schalke Still Find Themselves as Underdogs
Schalke 04 find themselves in the semifinals after a 3-1 win against Rogue. Schalke has been quietly excelling all season long but going up against Fnatic will be their toughest test yet. Schalke is a better team than Rogue but there were several moments in the series that showed Schalke’s weakness. The series nearly went all the way to game five until Schalke found a top lane teamfight that allowed them to end the game.
Schalke fell victim to Fnatic in both of their regular season matches. Fnatic was superior in how they maneuvered the map and built early game leads thanks to roaming and strong macro play. It’s important to note that both these teams have shown the ability to play through every role.
For Schalke, Upset, Abbedagge and Odoamne are all able to take over a game if Trick helps them acquire early advantages. Trick is the player to watch in this series. If he can read Broxah and slow down Fnatic’s early playmaking that they exhibited in their wins against G2, then Schalke might be able to advance to the finals.
That’s still no easy task. Sure Fnatic has honed in on a select few champions and playstyles, but they’ve become experts at it. Nemesis has improved drastically in his second split in the LEC with Fnatic, and with playmakers around him he’s the guy to watch on Fnatic. On roaming champions like Twisted Fate or Corki, Nemesis has been the catalyst for Fnatic’s early aggression. Even if Schalke throws bans towards Nemesis, I think Fnatic will have enough alternatives to secure the victory and get a rematch against G2 in the finals.
Picks: Fnatic (+145), O 3.5 (-180)
Growing up, Matthew was in love with sports. So, following his undergrad, it only made sense to dive head-first into the world of sports media. Rather than sticking to traditional sports, Matt found his way to eSports and gaming. He also produces, edits and serves as an analyst for SQUAD.
