Cloud9 and NAVI will meet in the first match of the group stage of IEM Katowice 2023, and will also open the battles in the context of group A. It is worth recalling that Cloud9 came here from the Play-In stage, where they got two wins and did not suffer a single defeat.
In turn, the Born to Win recently played at BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2023, where they showed a very weak game, having won three wins in five matches.
In general, judging by the performance of the teams, it is rather difficult to single out a favorite. Yes, and the coefficients tell us that there is no advantage here.
However, I would take a closer look at three maps, since both teams are just starting their way into the new season, and the last matches can hardly be called indicative. Yes, and there is a feeling that NAVI is not yet in the right condition to beat someone with a devastating score.
Form Cloud9
The twelfth team of the world ranking managed to reach the quarterfinals of IEM Rio Major 2022. Moreover, the path of the Russian team turned out to be difficult, because it could even fly out of the Challengers Stage.
However, in the playoffs, Cloud9 clearly did not play to their maximum, since they had to close MOUZ and move to the semi-finals. After the championship, the team took a long vacation to complete the expected transfer and invite a buster.
As for the start at IEM Katowice 2023 Play-In, here the team outplayed IHC without any problems, and then managed to cope with ENCE in the fight and reach the group stage. Therefore, Cloud9 has some confidence, but everything is rather shaky.
Latest Cloud9 results:
- Victory over Natus Vincere with a score of 16:14.
- Victory over Heroic with a score of 2:0.
- Defeated by MOUZ with a score of 1:2.
- Victory over IHC with a score of 16:5.
- Victory over ENCE with a score of 2:1.
Best Cloud9 Maps:
It is worth noting that the Russian team continues to refuse the Nuke card.
Form NAVI
Back in December, the sixth team in the world ranking failed at the BLAST Premier World Final 2022, where, although it made it to the playoffs, it lost to Team Liquid in the quarterfinals.
In the new season, the Born to Win had a very ambiguous start at the group stage of BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2023, where they beat Ninjas in Pajamas twice, but also fell off G2 twice without a chance.
And in their last match, NAVI barely coped with Complexity, leaving behind a field of questions. Therefore, I would not think that now the team will come up with something in two weeks and begin to play noticeably better. At least the team can wake up by the end of the group stage.
Latest NAVI results:
- Victory over Ninjas in Pajamas with a score of 2:1.
- Lost to G2 with a score of 0:2.
- Victory over Ninjas in Pajamas with a score of 2:1.
- Lost to G2 with a score of 0:2.
- Victory over Complexity with a score of 2:1.
The best NAVI maps:
- Overpass - 60% of wins.
- Nuke - 50% win rate.
In turn, the Ukrainian team still does not play on the Vertigo map.
Statistics of meetings Cloud9 — NAVI
As part of the last season, the teams had one meeting - Cloud9 won at IEM Rio Major 2022 (16:14).
Prediction for the match Cloud9 — NAVI
I wouldn't expect two cards here, and here's why. Firstly, NAVI looked very ambiguous in Copenhagen, where, even against the backdrop of Complexity, they almost managed to miss the spring finals. Secondly, Cloud9 also builds their game, and sometimes the team does not understand each other.
As for cards, Born to Win can be hard on Ancient, Anubis, and possibly Mirage. In turn, if I were Cloud9, I would have forgotten about Inferno, where B is a yard and a continuous miss communication.
Therefore, considering all the options, I would recommend betting more on Total on cards 2.5. Personally, I doubt that someone will be able to put the squeeze on two maps, since the teams showed a very unstable game in the first matches.
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