At the start of ESL Pro League Season 22, we are in for an exciting clash between the experienced Astralis and the South American side Fluxo. The Danes enter the match as favorites thanks to their more stable form and stronger map pool, while Fluxo will try to put up a fight with their aggressive style on Ancient and Mirage. The experience and individual skill of Astralis make them the main contenders for victory in this matchup.
Bookmakers’ View: Astralis as Favorites
Bookmakers consider Astralis the favorites in their match against Fluxo in the first stage of ESL Pro League Season 22. Despite some inconsistency in recent months, the Danes hold an advantage in top-tier experience and have proven capable of beating teams at a similar level. A key factor is Astralis’ strong map pool — particularly Nuke and Inferno, where the team shows stable results and a structured approach. On the other hand, Fluxo often struggle even at regional tournaments, which lowers their chances against a more disciplined and well-prepared opponent. This combination of experience, tactical flexibility, and tested maps makes Astralis a more reliable candidate for victory in the eyes of bookmakers.
Current Form of Astralis: What to Expect
Astralis head into ESL Pro League Season 22 with mixed results. Over the past three months, they played 49 maps and won 26 of them, demonstrating moderate stability. In August–September, the team took part in FISSURE Playground 2, finishing 5–8th — not the best but far from a disaster.
- Astralis lineup: dev1ce, Staehr, jabbi, HooXi, Magisk
In their last five matches, the Danes secured three wins — against GamerLegion, Legacy, and Virtus.pro — while suffering defeats to FURIA and paiN. This indicates that Astralis can confidently beat teams of their level but may run into difficulties against more aggressive South American squads.
Current Form of Fluxo: What to Expect
Fluxo have been slightly more active in tournaments recently. Over the past three months, they played 59 maps, winning 33. However, their latest results were modest: 4th place at ESL Challenger League SA Cup 1, 5–8th at Fragadelphia Fragville 2025 and CCT SA Series 4, and an early 13–16th place finish at ESL Challenger League SA Cup 2.
- Fluxo lineup: zevy, arT, kye, decenty, Lucaozy
In their last five matches, Fluxo won twice against Players but lost three times — twice to Bestia and once to ex-W7M. This shows their instability: capable of strong performances, but often losing even to equal-level opponents.
Astralis Map Pool
Astralis traditionally begin by banning Dust2, their weakest map. Their most likely pick is Nuke, which they’ve played 15 times with a 67% win rate, making it a stronghold. A secondary option could be Inferno (62% WR) or Ancient (60% WR), both of which also suit their style.
Fluxo Map Pool
Fluxo also tend to ban Dust2, but since Astralis will likely remove it first, the Brazilians may ban Overpass or Train, where they are less consistent. Their strongest pick is Ancient with a 71% win rate, alongside Mirage or Inferno, which they frequently play. Another strong option is Nuke (64% WR), but since Astralis also excel there, it remains a risky choice.
Head-to-Head
Over the past six months, the teams have not faced each other. This will be their first official head-to-head, adding intrigue to the matchup: the lack of prior encounters creates an element of surprise in preparation.
Match Prediction: Astralis vs Fluxo — ESL Pro League Stage 1
Astralis enter the match in slightly better form, showing more stable results against stronger opponents. Fluxo have dangerous potential on Ancient and Nuke, but their inconsistency at recent tournaments may prove costly.
Considering the map pool and overall quality of play, Astralis look like the favorites in this series. Fluxo may take a map — most likely Ancient — but in a best-of-three format, the Danes should prevail.
Prediction: Astralis to win 2:1.
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