European giant G2 Esports will face Australian side Rooster in the opening match of ESL Pro League Season 22. Despite Rooster’s good form on the regional stage, G2 are considered the clear favorites thanks to their experience, roster strength, and proven map pool. The key question is whether the Australians can put up a fight, or if the match will end in a confident victory for the Europeans.
Bookmakers’ View: G2 as Favorites
Bookmakers give the edge to G2 Esports in their match against Rooster in the first stage of ESL Pro League Season 22. The European squad boasts far greater experience at tier-1 level, as well as consistent performances on key maps such as Dust2 and Inferno, where they regularly secure a high win rate. Another factor is that Rooster’s results have mostly come from regional competitions, leaving them without much experience against teams of this caliber. It is precisely this international pedigree and proven map pool that make G2 the more reliable pick in the eyes of bookmakers.
Current Form of G2: What to Expect
G2 Esports head into ESL Pro League Season 22 with relatively stable results. Over the last three months, the team has played 45 maps and won 27. In August–September, G2 competed in two major events: BLAST Open London 2025 Finals, where they confidently secured 1st place, and FISSURE Playground 2, where they finished 5th–8th.
- G2 roster: huNter-, malbsMd, HeavyGod, SunPayus, matys
In their last five matches, G2 have won three, defeating GamerLegion, Legacy, and Lynn Vision, but fell short against FURIA and The MongolZ. This shows some inconsistency, though the team’s potential remains very high.
Current Form of Rooster: What to Expect
Australian squad Rooster are currently in excellent form. Over the past three months, they have played 53 maps and won 36, showcasing solid stability. Over the last month, Rooster actively competed in regional tournaments: ESL Challenger League Season 50 Oceania Cup 1 (2nd place), CCT Season 3 Oceania Series 2 (2nd place), and eXTREMESLAND 2025 Oceania Closed Qualifier (1st and 2nd place in different qualifiers).
- Rooster roster: asap, chelleos, TjP, sliimey, Terryyy
In their last five matches, Rooster have won four — against Ground Zero, LE-LUX, and twice against SemperFi, losing only once to the same SemperFi. This highlights their confidence and readiness heading into the league.
G2 Map Pool
G2 usually ban Nuke, as it remains their weakest map. Their preferred picks are Dust2 (75% win rate) and Inferno (73%), where the team consistently performs strongly. In contrast, Mirage has been less stable for them (38% win rate), so they typically avoid it. Against certain opponents, G2 may also remove Mirage or another less favorable map in the second ban phase.
Rooster Map Pool
Rooster typically ban Ancient, as it is their weakest map. The team adjusts their picks depending on their opponent’s weaknesses, but their strongest maps include Overpass (80% win rate), Nuke (81%), and Mirage (57%). Statistically, they also excel on Dust2 (80% win rate). In the second ban phase, Rooster are likely to remove Train, reducing the risk of an unpredictable pick from their opponents.
Head-to-Head
Over the past six months, G2 and Rooster have not faced each other. This will be their first official encounter, adding extra intrigue to the matchup.
Match Prediction: G2 Esports vs Rooster (ESL Pro League Season 22, Stage One)
In the opening match of ESL Pro League Season 22, G2 Esports will face Rooster. G2 have significant tier-1 experience and recently proved their strength by winning a major international tournament. Their map pool and individual skill level are clearly superior.
Rooster enter in good form, but their results have mostly come from regional events where the competition is far weaker. In this bo3 series, the Australians might fight on their own pick, but over the series’ length the edge lies firmly with G2.
Prediction: G2 Esports to win 2:1.
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