Astralis begin Stake Pulse Beat II against Sangal in a best-of-three match in Stockholm.

The Danes are clear favourites, but they have already shown this month that a famous name does not guarantee an easy victory. Astralis lost 2–1 against 5STAR at FISSURE Playground 3 and now need a more convincing performance against a team ranked outside the world’s top 100.

Astralis looking for a response

Astralis enter the tournament ranked 11th in the world, with HooXi leading a lineup featuring phzy, jabbi, Staehr and ryu.

Their last tournament produced mixed results. Astralis tested G2 in their opening match at FISSURE Playground 3 before losing to BetBoom and 5STAR. The defeat against 5STAR was particularly disappointing, as Astralis won the opening map but failed to close the series.

Staehr and phzy were their strongest performers in that match. If the two can carry that form into Stake Pulse Beat II, Astralis should have too much firepower for Sangal.

This is also a good opportunity for the team to build confidence. Astralis are the strongest side in Group A and will expect to move into the winners’ match without dropping a map.

Sangal face a major step up

Sangal arrive in Stockholm ranked 106th in the world.

Their current lineup includes R4DYX, Joey, bnox, adamS and puuha. This is a relatively new group, with several players joining during the summer, and they have not yet produced results that suggest they can consistently compete with teams at Astralis’ level.

Sangal recently faced Ninjas in Pyjamas in the Stake Ranked closed qualifier. They were unable to take a map, with several players struggling to make an impact.

Their best opportunity will come through the veto. If Sangal can force Astralis onto one of their less comfortable maps, they may keep the score close. Winning an entire map will still require a much better performance than they have shown recently.

Verdict

Astralis cannot afford to underestimate Sangal after their defeat against 5STAR. However, the gap between the teams is significant, both in the rankings and in individual quality.

A regular Astralis victory offers little value on its own. Backing them to win both maps is more aggressive, but it fits a match they should control from the beginning.

Sangal may make one of the maps competitive, but Astralis should have enough experience and firepower to complete a 2–0 victory.

Tip

Astralis -1.5 maps