Predictions for Week 5 #HGC EU Feb. 17 and 18, 2017

So, after five weeks, we are at the last week of play before the Western Clash, and it's kind of a bad week to be an EU fan. None of the top four are playing each other, which means each of the top four are playing one of the bottom four, and there is a strong chance that this will be a weekend of sweeps.

With only eight games this week (no Sunday games), it's going to feel a little truncated... because it is. Sorry if this isn't hyping it up for you, but I'm not really excited for a series of stomps, and that's pretty much how I see EU going.

Friday, February 17th

Match 1: Playing Ducks vs. FNATIC

This has the most potential to be a match, or at least it would, if FNATIC didn't look so amazingly strong. FNATIC turned in a classic match against Dignitas last week, while the Ducks were destroyed by Dignitas, and then destroyed Synergy. Ducks put up a fight, but FNATIC is just too much and they get the sweep, 3-0.

Match 2: Tricked eSport vs. Misfits

Wow do I feel bad for Tricked eSport! Misfits looks completely unstoppable and this is the match Tricked gets before they have almost two months off to stew and figure out how to climb. Tricked is going to be the most interesting team (along with Expert) to watch in EU as the season progresses, but right now, they are out of their league against EU's number one team. Misfits in a sweep, 3-0.

Saturday, February 18th

Match 1: Team Dignitas vs. beGenius

To be fair to beGenius, they were not ready for this, and they have handled themselves well. Their record does not reflect their play, which has been solid, but solid loses to stellar. No team in the world plays the team fight as well as Dignitas, and they are looking for momentum going into the clash. Dignitas sweeps, 3-0.

Match 2: Synergy vs. Team Expert 

Synergy had a moment last week, and it was pretty special to watch. They showed up for the first game against Playing Ducks, they drafted well, played even better, and stole a game off of the Ducks. Then, Synergy reverted to their unimaginative drafting and play; predictable, boring, and bound to be punished. If you bring predictable against adrd and Expert, the punishment will be extreme. Not only a sweep, but at least one match will clock in at a sub-14 minute time as Expert takes their frustration out from missing the clash on Synergy, 3-0.