On October 4, the main stage of ESL Pro League Season 22 kicks off, and one of the opening matches will feature a clash between Team Falcons and Astralis. Both teams aim to start their group stage journey with confidence, but Falcons enter the matchup in better form and with a slight edge in the eyes of analysts.
Bookmakers’ View: Falcons as Favorites
Bookmakers give a slight edge to Team Falcons, citing their stable form and positive recent results, including a notable win over FaZe. The team boasts a 63% win rate over the past three months and performs confidently on their strongest maps — Nuke and Ancient. Astralis, on the other hand, have shown less consistency (around 52% win rate), so their chances are rated a bit lower, though the overall difference between the teams remains narrow.
Current Form of Team Falcons: What to Expect
Team Falcons have shown solid consistency in recent months. The roster has played 27 maps, winning 17, which indicates a balanced mix of aggression and tactical discipline. In September, the team competed at FISSURE Playground 2, finishing 3rd–4th, showing strong performances against mid- and top-tier opponents.
- Roster: NiKo, TeSeS, kyxsan, m0NESY, kyousuke
In their last five matches, Falcons secured four wins — over paiN, Legacy, FaZe, and Virtus.pro — losing only to FURIA. This highlights their ability to compete with top teams, with the win against FaZe being a strong indicator of growing synergy within the lineup. If Falcons maintain this level, they could pose a serious challenge even for Astralis.
Current Form of Astralis: What to Expect
Astralis have been much busier, playing 63 maps over the past three months and winning 33 — slightly above 50%. While this shows consistency, it also hints at fatigue, which occasionally leads to uneven performances. Over the past month, they participated in FISSURE Playground 2 (5th–8th place) and the first stage of ESL Pro League S22 (6th–8th place) — results that can be considered average for a lineup of their experience.
- Roster: dev1ce, Staehr, jabbi, HooXi, Magisk
In their last five matches, Astralis claimed victories over Legacy, HEROIC, and Fluxo, but fell to GamerLegion and ENCE. The team tends to start series well but struggles to hold momentum and adapt mid-series. If they don’t address this issue, the match against Falcons could be a tough test.
Team Falcons Map Pool
Based on recent trends, Falcons will most likely ban Overpass first, as it’s their weakest map. For their pick, they’ll probably choose Nuke, where they hold an 80% win rate and display excellent coordination on defense. An alternative pick could be Train (60% win rate), where Falcons show stability in retakes and timing control.
During the second ban phase, Falcons are expected to remove Mirage, to avoid facing Astralis on one of their comfort maps (60% win rate). If the series goes to a decider, Ancient is a likely choice — Falcons have a 100% win rate on it in recent months.
Astralis Map Pool
As usual, Astralis are likely to start by banning Dust2, avoiding fast-paced and unpredictable gameplay. Their pick will probably be Ancient, where they have a 71% win rate and feel comfortable thanks to their structured approach. An alternative could be Inferno (45% win rate), a map Astralis sometimes use to enforce a slower, tactical pace.
In the second ban phase, Astralis will likely remove Train, since Falcons perform strongly on it. As a result, the decider could be Ancient or Inferno, depending on each team’s choices. These maps could give Astralis a chance to leverage their experience and in-game adaptability.
Head-to-Head
In the past six months, Team Falcons and Astralis have not faced each other. This means both sides will approach the match with little direct reference, relying heavily on preparation, analytics, and in-series adaptation.
Prediction for Team Falcons vs Astralis: ESL Pro League Season 22
Considering their current form, Team Falcons appear fresher and more consistent, especially in their recent performances. Their confidence after wins over FaZe and Virtus.pro could help them start the series strong. Astralis, while more experienced, have shown inconsistency in BO3 series against flexible teams.
The most likely scenario is a three-map series, with Falcons winning 2–1. Falcons are expected to take their Nuke pick, Astralis could respond with Ancient, and the decider will likely go in favor of the more energetic and cohesive squad from the Middle East.
Prediction: Team Falcons to win 2–1
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