The new LoL Esports season is just a few weeks away and despite a horde of players leaving for the NA LCS, the EU LCS teams have recovered well and still look strong.

If anything, the EU LCS looks more competitive this year and it's going to be a tight battle for that all important first place.

So before we see any of the teams play, we have ranked which teams on paper look the strongest and who we think have the best chance of success during the Spring Split.

The EU LCS 2018 Spring Split begins January 19 and brings a lot of newly put-together rosters

1. Misfits

Maxlore will be happy with his team's new roster and will be looking for his first EU LCS trophy

Sitting at the top we have put Worlds heroes Misfits. They won the hearts of European fans as they came agonisingly close to defeating SK Telecom T1 at the World Championships last year.

While Tristan 'PowerOfEvil' Schrage and Lee 'IgNar' Dong-geun will be big losses to the team they still have an incredibly strong core. And on-top of that they have made fantastic signings in Chres 'Sencux' Laursen and Mihael 'Mikyx' Mehle who will already have synergy from their time together on Splyce.

But the crucial factor for me placing this team so highly is their backing staff. Head coach Hussain Moosvi and his team did a fantastic job last year and will be looking to build on their success.

Misfits were known last year for their ability to adapt to new patches, with a crazy preseason and a return to best of ones, Misfits may be the most likely team to quickly establish themselves at the top.

2. G2

Perkz is the only remaining member of G2 that won the EU LCS and will be feeling confident

It really is difficult to call who will win the EU LCS but you have to place G2 highly. Since gaining promotion, the organisation has won every single split they've participated in.

Luka 'Perkz' Perkovic is the only member left from last season but the new roster built around him still looks like a big threat.

The big talking point of this team will be the synergy with his new jungler, Marcin 'Jankos' Jankowski. Jankos has always been heralded as one of the best players in Europe but has yet to win an EU LCS title.

Those two together will be a lethal duo capable of taking down any team. G2's new bot lane of Petter 'Hjarnan' Freyschuss and Kim 'Wadid' Bae-in were also strong last year and will want to prove they belong at the top.

Add in Martin 'Wunder' Hansen who, on his day, has single handedly dismantled opposition and you have potentially a very strong team. However, with so many changes they may not be able to compete with Misfits' synergy just yet.

3. Schalke 04

Schalke have invested a lot with a majorly changed team and substantial support staff

Newly promoted Schalke 04 have ensured that they will not fall to previous mistakes and have created a superb team who will be looking to surprise.

Exciting prospect Elias 'Upset' Lipp is the only player remaining from their Challenger team that has undergone a major revamp including superb top-laner Kiss 'Vizicsacsi' Tamas.

But the major differnce for the team this year is their substantial backing staff including former commentator Mitch 'Krepo' Voorspoels. Schalke are throwing everything they have at this season and it could just pay off.

4. Fnatic

Fnatic have only made one change with new support Hylisang (left) who joins from UoL

Some will be surprised to see Fnatic so low on this list and will appear contradictory after we praised Misfits for not having a lot of changes to their team.

However, Fnatic were incosistent at best last season and Jesse 'Jesiz' Le wasn't the sole reason for that. And while I think Zdravets 'Hylisang' Galabov is an upgrade I don't think that will instantly solve things.

When Paul 'sOAZ' Boyer spoke to us, he admitted that the team had a lot of issues off stage last season. If the team struggled to get along, it's hard to see their fortunes changing.

The team have also been seperated during the offseason as Hylisang and Martin 'Rekkles' Larsson have been practising in Korea. Fnatic may return to their former highs but they are going to have a slow start.

5. Splyce

Splyce have a majorly new roster but appear to have recovered well with an exciting line-up

Splyce have a majorly new roster but appear to have recovered well with an exciting line-up. Kasper 'Kobbe' Kobberup is the only player remaining on their team and is a player I personally think is criminaly underrated.

Exciting mid-laner Yasin 'Nisqy' Dincer and experienced support Raymond 'KaSing' Tsang both return to the EU LCS after playing in the NA LCS and EU Challenger Series respectively.

All of the players on the roster are very talented and could potentially push for a top place but for now, it's hard to predict exactly how this new roster will perform.

6. H2K

H2K have an exciting prospect in mid Caedrel (left) and high hopes in jungler Santorin (right)

H2K have an entirely new roster with some exciting prospects. British mid-laner Marc 'Caedrel' Robert Lamont and Patrik 'Sheriff' Jiru are both making their LCS debuts and are highly touted as two players with an incredible amount of potential.

Meanwhile Danish jungler Lucas 'Santorin' Larsen makes his return to Europe after playing for TSM, NRG and Gold Coin United in North America. He is another player with a chip on his shoulder who will want to be known in the community as more than just 'Bjergsen's former ward'.

Many fans have doubts over the team's new support Hampus 'Sprattell' Abrahamsson who hasn't had the best of luck in the EU LCS. Players claim he is one of the best laning supports in Europe but viewers will have to be convinced.

This is a solid team on paper that could reach play-offs but for now, they will need to learn how to play together and help the rookies adapt to playing on stage.

7. Unicorns of Love

Eun 'Totoro' Jong-seop is UoL's newest signing but will be a big question mark for the team

Unicorns of Love are another team who have spent to offseason recovering after losing most of their roster.

They have also done a reasonably good job in recovering. Support Eun 'Totoro' Jong-seop had an ok season in the LCK last year with BBQ Olivers and will be the biggest question mark surrounding this team.

Matti 'WhiteKnight' Sormunen and Jonas 'Kold' Andersen (formerly Trashy) are both proven qualities and will be crucial in UoL's success. Fabian 'Exileh' Schubert is a great player but was dreadful last Split, this team needs him back at his best.

8. Vitality

Cabochard is the only remaining member of Vitality who signed four players from Giants

Lucas 'Cabochard' Simon-Meslet is the only remaining member of Vitality as the French org have signed four players from Giants.

Giants looked very strong in the Challenger Series last season and had very good macro for a team at that level. Fans eyes will be on trash-talking jungler Erberk 'Gilius' Demir who has a chance to back up his own words.

9. Team ROCCAT

ROCCAT and former Schalke support Norskeren looked strong in the Challenger Series

ROCCAT have signed a completely new team but it doesn't look awfully convincing. Tore 'Norskeren' Hoel Eilertsen looked promising in the Challenger Series last year with Schalke and will quickly need to make the step up.

Kim 'Profit' Jun-hyung was previously a part of SKT and was the strongest performer of Ninjas in Pyjamas last season. He is one of the two Korean players on the team and while talented, they could cause major communication issues for the team.

Jonas 'Memento' Elmarghichi will have to have a big presence from the jungle if this team wishes to climb up the table.

10. Giants

Giants looked good in Challenger but have been forced to rebuild as four players have left

After losing the majority of their players to Vitality, Giants haven't been left with a lot to work with.

Charly 'Djoko' Guillard, Felix 'Betsy' Edling and Pierre 'Steelback' Medjaldi all have played in the EU LCS but have not looked convincing in past seasons.

Add that with two rookies, one of which is Korean it's hard to see this team making waves, especially with the increased level of competition this year.