In the quarterfinals of IEM Chengdu 2025, Vitality and Astralis will face off — and most analysts favor the French-European side. Vitality enter this match in excellent form after their triumph at ESL Pro League Season 22 and a string of convincing victories. Astralis, on the other hand, are going through a period of inconsistency, though recent performances show gradual improvement. This matchup promises to be a clash of experience and structure versus form and individual brilliance — and Vitality are seen as the main favorite to reach the semifinals.
How the Bookmakers See It: Vitality Are the Favorites
Bookmakers consider Vitality clear favorites in this matchup. The team has been showing stable form, recently won ESL Pro League Season 22, and possess superior individual skill and team chemistry. Given Astralis’ inconsistency, Vitality appear much more confident — both tactically and mentally. Experts expect the French-European squad to handle the Danes without major difficulty, especially on their comfort maps.
Current Form of Vitality: What to Expect
Vitality approach the Astralis matchup in fantastic shape. Over the past three months, the team has played 61 maps, winning 42 of them — an impressive sign of stability. Last month, the squad delivered a stellar performance at ESL Pro League Season 22, capturing the championship, and they continue to display confident play at IEM Chengdu 2025.
- Vitality lineup: apEX, ZywOo, flameZ, mezii
Out of their last five matches, Vitality have won four — against G2, Lynn Vision, Virtus.pro, and Falcons — losing only to MOUZ. The team looks cohesive both tactically and individually. Their strengths lie in disciplined attacking setups and consistent trade fragging, making them one of the main contenders for the title.
Current Form of Astralis: What to Expect
Astralis are currently in a mixed phase. Over the last three months, they have played 62 maps and won only 29. The team has been active in major tournaments — finishing 15–16th at ESL Pro League Season 22 and 9–11th at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025.
- Astralis lineup: dev1ce, Staehr, jabbi, HooXi, Magisk
Their last five matches, however, suggest some improvement: three wins (The MongolZ, Natus Vincere, 3DMAX) and two losses (Falcons, Aurora). This indicates a degree of stabilization, though the team remains far from peak form. The key factor will be the performance of Staehr and dev1ce, as they can give Astralis a real fighting chance.
Vitality’s Map Pool
Vitality usually start by banning Ancient — their weakest map. For their pick, they prefer Nuke, where they hold around a 70% win rate and previously outplayed Astralis at IEM Cologne. They also often consider Inferno or Dust2, depending on their opponent’s weaknesses. After that, Vitality will likely remove Train to avoid surprises. If the series goes to a decider, Mirage is the most probable choice, where they play with confidence.
Astralis’ Map Pool
Astralis traditionally ban Dust2, as Vitality boast a massive 92% win rate there. Their pick could be Ancient or Inferno — the former being their most stable map (72% win rate), and the latter offering room for their structured playstyle. In the second ban phase, Astralis are likely to remove Overpass to avoid repeating past mistakes against Vitality. If the match reaches a third map, Mirage will likely be the decider, serving as neutral ground for both teams.
Head-to-Head
In the past six months, Vitality and Astralis have met only once — at IEM Cologne 2025. The French-European side won 2–0 (Overpass 13:8, Nuke 13:11). That series demonstrated how comfortably Vitality play against Astralis’ style, particularly on Nuke, where they outpace the Danes and capitalize on their individual edge.
Quarterfinal Prediction: Vitality vs Astralis – IEM Chengdu 2025
Considering the current form, Vitality hold a significant advantage over Astralis. Their stability, high win rates on key maps (Dust2, Nuke, Inferno), and strong streak against top opponents indicate their readiness for a deep tournament run.
While Astralis have shown signs of progress, they remain inconsistent, especially on the T side. If Vitality impose their pace and control the economy, the series will likely end in a clean sweep.
Prediction: Vitality 2–0 Astralis.
#384
Prestige Esport
XI EsportWatch match
