Fnatic are preparing to face Team Vitality in the first round of the 2019 LEC playoffs! This quarterfinal takes place on March 29, and it’s one of the most anticipated matchups of the knockout stage, so our League of Legends experts had to do an in-depth betting breakdown for it. Fnatic went through a lot to get here. They had a disastrous start to their regular season, but they regained their footing after shoring up their early game weaknesses and learning to coordinate with their new mid laner. Now, they’re in their best shape yet, and they’re dying to prove themselves in a Bo5 setting.

Vitality don’t look as convincing. They gained a lot of momentum at the start of the 2019 Spring Split, but they ran out of steam during the final weeks of the competition. Their relentless aggression is a double-edged sword, and Vitality are very hit-or-miss with their playmaking. Combine that with their haphazard macro, and this team is the definition of an LEC wildcard.

Fnatic vs Vitality Match Breakdown

Top Lane Matchup

We’ll start our Fnatic vs Vitality breakdown with the top lane matchup. His 2.9 KDA and 7.6 CS per minute might not blow you away, but FNC Bwipo is one of the best carry top laners in the league. The recent meta changes are practically made for his skirmish-heavy playstyle, so he’s found a lot of success by constantly challenging his opponents in the top lane. That said, Bwipo does suffer from overconfidence, and it’s common to see him opt for losing matchups and overstep his limits in the laning phase.

Cabochard is much more consistent in comparison. With a 3.9 KDA and 8.8 CS per minute, the French top laner acts as the foundation of Team Vitality’s strategies. His carry play is strong enough that he can even give someone like Bwipo a run for his money, but you can also count on Cabochard to perform on tanks and bruiser. And in the end, versatility will be key in a Bo5 setting.

VERDICT : VIT Cabochard takes the lead in the top lane matchup.

Jungle Matchup

A different narrative unfolds in the jungle. Sporting a 5.3 KDA and 5.0 CS per minute, FNC Broxah went from one of the weakest junglers in the region to an early game powerhouse. His mechanics are on point, but it’s his ability to always be exactly where he needs to help out his laners that sets him apart from other European junglers.

Mowgli isn’t as refined. With a 3.0 KDA and 4.5 CS per minute, Vitality’s jungler is best characterized by the “erratic playmaker” label. Mowgli is always looking for ways to break open the game from the moment he loads onto the Rift, but for every two good plays he makes, there’s one that blows up in his face. With that, it’s hard to imagine him keeping up with Broxah in a prolonged series.

VERDICT : FNC Broxah conquers the jungle.

Mid Lane Matchup

A few weeks ago, we would’ve said there’s only one way the Fnatic vs Vitality mid lane can go. Times change, though. With a 5.4 KDA and 8.9 CS per minute, FNC Nemesis went from an unreliable rookie to someone who can hold his own against the best mid laners in Europe. His measured playstyle leaves close to no openings to his opponents, and while his laning could use some work, he makes up for it with stellar showings in teamfights.

Vitality’s Jiizuke will definitely put Nemesis to a test. His 2.1 KDA and 8.5 CS per minute might not seem impressive, but that’s just a side-effect of his high-risk, high-reward playstyle. Jiizuke has a habit of going for plays that no other mid laner would consider, and even someone as solid as Nemesis will struggle to keep up with his aggression.

VERDICT : VIT Jiizuke finds an edge in the mid lane.

Bot Lane Matchup

The bot lane matchup is a clear mismatch. Sporting a 4.5 KDA and 10.5 CS per minute, Rekkles went from a reserved teamfighter to a confident AD carry that’s actively looking for ways to make the game revolve around him. This development makes Rekkles a perfect lane partner for Hylissang (3.1 KDA), who’s always been one of the most aggressive playmaking supports in the league.

Team Vitality don’t have as much firepower on their side. Holding a 4.2 KDA and 10.2 CS per minute, Atilla is dominant in the laning phase, but his positioning isn’t refined enough to keep the momentum going in the later stages of the game. And while Jactroll (2.8 KDA) has his moments, he lacks the consistency to match Hylissang in the support position.

VERDICT : FNC Rekkles and Hylissang win the bot lane standoff.

Fnatic vs Vitality LEC Quarterfinals Prediction

Fnatic and Vitality might seem close if you look at the positional matchups, but the two are in completely different leagues when it comes to synergy and teamwork. Fnatic have already figured out their playstyle, but Vitality still have a ton of issues to solve. The Bo5 LEC playoffs format will be sure to highlight the differences between these lineups, so while Vitality won’t go down without a fight, we’re going to have to predict a 3-1 victory for Fnatic!

You can bet on Fnatic winning the Fnatic vs Vitality LEC quarterfinals with a 3-1 score for odds of 2.70 at Betway.

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