After a strong showing at FISSURE Playground 2 and a confident start to ESL Pro League Season 22, FURIA are gearing up for another test — a clash against Aurora. The two teams know each other well, setting the stage for a heated encounter where the Brazilians will seek revenge for their previous defeats, while the Russian squad aims to reaffirm its reputation as an unpredictable challenger.
How the Bookmakers See It: FURIA as Favorites
Bookmakers consider FURIA the moderate favorite in this matchup, relying on the team’s stable form, high win rate on key maps, and recent victories over strong opponents. The Brazilians display confidence both individually and as a unit, making them a more reliable pick in a best-of-three series. Meanwhile, Aurora is viewed as a potential upset candidate — a team capable of toppling favorites — but overall consistency and depth still tip the scales in favor of FURIA.
Current Form of FURIA: What to Expect
The Brazilian roster FURIA continues to demonstrate consistency and composure. Over the past three months, the team has played 73 maps, winning 46 of them — an impressive figure that highlights their endurance and ability to perform across long tournaments. In the last month, FURIA won FISSURE Playground 2, taking 1st place, and successfully advanced through the first stage of ESL Pro League Season 22, finishing 6–8th.
- Roster: yuurih, KSCERATO, FalleN, molodoy, YEKINDAR
FURIA has won four of its last five matches — against Inner Circle, 3DMAX, B8, and M80 — with the only loss coming to G2 Esports. The team shows tactical flexibility, excellent individual performance, and discipline in clutch rounds, making them one of the strongest playoff contenders.
Current Form of Aurora: What to Expect
Aurora have shown solid progress, though they remain less stable than their opponent. Over the past three months, they’ve played 38 maps, winning 22. Last month, the team competed at FISSURE Playground 2, finishing 5–8th, a respectable result that showcased their competitive potential.
- Roster: XANTARES, MAJ3R, Wicadia, woxic, jottAAA
In their last five matches, Aurora claimed victories against Gentle Mates, FURIA, and Astralis, while suffering losses to NAVI and Liquid. They possess strong mechanical skill and tactical unpredictability, but their inconsistency across maps might become a liability in a long best-of-three series.
FURIA’s Map Pool
FURIA boast a deep and well-rounded map pool that allows them to adapt to different opponents. The team typically bans Ancient, while their strongest maps include Nuke (86% win rate), Mirage (77%), and Inferno (68%). For this matchup, their most likely pick is Inferno, a map where FURIA’s aggressive yet coordinated playstyle often secures victory in clutch situations.
In the second ban phase, FURIA will likely remove Overpass, where Aurora currently hold a perfect win record. Overall, the Brazilians will aim to dictate the pace on their comfort maps, relying on team chemistry and the consistent performance of their star players.
Aurora’s Map Pool
Aurora approach the map veto strategically, often adapting to their opponent’s weaknesses. The team also tends to ban Ancient, steering clear of a map that doesn’t fit their structure. Their most successful maps include Train (100% win rate), Overpass (100%), and Inferno (67%). In this matchup, Aurora’s likely pick is Train, which allows them to control tempo and counter FURIA’s aggressive approach.
During the final ban phase, Aurora will probably remove Mirage, denying FURIA one of their best maps. As a result, the decider is likely to be Dust2 — a neutral ground where both teams have similar success rates and plenty of head-to-head history.
Head-to-Head Record
Over the past six months, FURIA and Aurora have met three times, with Aurora currently leading the rivalry 2–1.
- PGL Astana 2025: Aurora won 2–1 (Anubis 10–13, Inferno 13–6, Dust2 13–6)
- BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: FURIA won 13–7 on Dust2 (bo1)
- FISSURE Playground 2: Aurora defeated FURIA 2–0 (Inferno 13–5, Dust2 13–11)
Aurora hold the psychological edge following their most recent victory, but FURIA will be determined to avenge those losses and reassert dominance on the international stage.
Prediction: FURIA vs Aurora — ESL Pro League S22, Battle for the Playoffs
A tense series is expected, with FURIA entering as the favorite thanks to their superior form, deeper map pool, and greater experience in high-pressure situations. Aurora can still challenge them — especially on Train or Dust2 — but overall performance trends and consistency point toward the Brazilians.
Prediction: FURIA 2–1 Aurora
