Astralis gave MAD Lions a scare

In the opening game of Group B for the LEC Winter Split, Astralis gave MAD Lions a fright in a series that was considerably more competitive than anybody could have anticipated. However, MAD Lions ultimately won, playing up to their reputation as the match's favourite. The MAD Lions dominated the first game, with Nisqy's Azir putting on a show. His 7/0/9 record in the first game ought to have served as a barometer for the remainder of the series, but Astralis swiftly made up lost ground and tied the match in game two thanks to their own mid laner, Dajor, who dominated MAD Lions on Sylas.

For what it's worth, game two was a tighter match, with MAD Lions and Astralis being fairly well-matched throughout the early and middle stages. It took Astralis a while to build up a string of successful picks and skirmishes before they discovered their long-lasting edge.