MAD Lions vs. Cloud9: MSI 2021 betting analysis

The inaugural transatlantic League of Legends clash of 2021 unfolds at the Mid-Season Invitational as European champions MAD Lions confront North America’s Cloud9 in the Rumble Stage. This matchup represents more than just a single game—it’s a referendum on regional supremacy between LEC and LCS representatives.

Cloud9 navigated a tension-filled group stage that culminated in a dramatic final day resurgence. Top laner Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami delivered a career-defining performance against world champions DWG KIA, completely dominating his lane matchup.

MAD Lions concluded their group stage with an impressive 5-1 record, though several matches revealed concerning inconsistencies. The European squad demonstrated exceptional early game coordination but repeatedly faltered during mid-game macro transitions, allowing opponents to recover from substantial deficits.

Both organizations enter this Summoner’s Rift encounter with relatively balanced expectations. While both are projected as strong Western contenders, determining the superior regional representative requires examining their contrasting approaches to map control. Expect explosive skirmishes and emphasis on individual mechanical prowess beginning from the initial laning phases.

The #MSI2021 Rumble Stage Schedule for Day 1! pic.twitter.com/VJC9taKeCW

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While mid laner Luka “Perkz” Perković remains Cloud9’s most recognizable star as the tournament’s sole defending MSI champion, the true catalysts for their resurgence reside in other positions. Both Fudge and support Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme deserve primary focus in this strategic matchup.

Following inconsistent initial tournament performances, Fudge and Vulcan have transformed into dominant forces that finally actualized Cloud9’s potential as a complete team. Vulcan particularly terrorizes opponents on engage-oriented supports like Alistar, consistently generating game-altering plays. His most commanding performance occurred during the victory against DWG KIA, where he applied relentless pressure that never allowed the world champions breathing room. Similarly, Fudge produced his career-best showing with an exceptional 10/3/6 KDA performance on Lee Sin.

Advanced players should note that Vulcan’s roam timing typically aligns with second buff spawns, creating predictable but difficult-to-counter pressure windows. Many teams mistakenly overcommit to stopping his roams rather than punishing the temporarily vulnerable ADC.

For MAD Lions to secure victory, they must prepare for a Cloud9 squad brimming with renewed confidence. While conventional wisdom positions MAD Lions as favorites, Cloud9’s group stage conclusion warrants reevaluation of which team truly holds advantage.

MAD Lions’ primary strength manifests during early game phases where jungler Javier “Elyoya” Batalla operates with seemingly unstoppable momentum. The Spanish rookie competes at his inaugural international tournament yet performs with veteran composure. His early pressure generates substantial leads for MAD Lions, though the team struggles to maintain these advantages transitioning into mid-game.

Thus far, MAD Lions demonstrates overeagerness and instability when concluding laning phases. This tendency has cost the team hard-earned leads, nearly resulting in unexpected defeats. Repeating these strategic errors against Cloud9 will likely incur swift punishment, making Elyoya’s decision-making the definitive victory determinant.

Common mistakes include premature objective contests without proper vision control and misjudged tower dive attempts. Teams should allocate approximately 3-5 minutes post-laning phase to consolidate advantages through controlled vision expansion.

MAD Lions roster:

• Top – İrfan “Armut” Tükek
• Jungle – Javier “Elyoya” Batalla
• Mid – Marek “Humanoid” Brázda
• Bot – Matyáš “Carzzy” Orság
• Support – Norman “Kaiser” Kaiser

Cloud9 roster:

• Top – Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami
• Jungle – Robert “Blaber” Huang
• Mid – Luka “Perkz” Perković
• Bot – Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen
• Support – Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme

LEC organizations have historically maintained competitive superiority over LCS counterparts, though this specific confrontation presents legitimate opportunity to alter that narrative. Cloud9 enters this match carrying substantial momentum from their group-stage concluding victory against DWG KIA. While MAD Lions appears stronger theoretically, inconsistent group stage performances create vulnerability for an upset victory.

MAD Lions victory carries 1.62 odds while Cloud9 triumph offers 2.12 odds. Considering recent performances, definite value exists in selecting Cloud9 for this match wager.

The match between MAD Lions and Cloud9 will conclude the first day of the MSI 2021 Rumble stage on May 14.

Strategic betting approach suggests allocating 65-70% of bankroll to Cloud9 moneyline given the substantial value discrepancy between perceived and actual probabilities. Advanced bettors might consider live betting opportunities when MAD Lions establish early leads, as their mid-game weaknesses create buy-low situations.

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