The 2020 LEC season started in the best possible way. The team in Berlin delivered yet again when it comes to production and entertainment value. As if anyone needed more reasons to tune in to the second-best region in the world. So, let’s focus on what’s ahead, and take a closer look at a couple of 2020 LEC week 2 matches you need to watch!

Now, seeing how we’re still at the start of the season, these matches might not deliver. We all saw what happened with Team SoloMid and Team Liquid in North America. They’re still meshing and developing synergy as five-man units, which heavily affected their play as well. Teams are taking their sweet time. They have every reason in the world to do so. The Spring Split doesn’t amount to much in the grand scheme of things, so it might as well work on your issues at a leisurely pace.

That said, the 2020 LEC week 2 matches listed below should be on your watch list for various reasons. They’ll entertain us beyond measure or give us a better look at the next breed of European talent. Either way, there’s a reason to tune in. Just make sure to have enough popcorn, because top-tier play will not be absent.

FRIDAY — Week 2, Day 1: Origen vs Rogue

An absolute spectacle opens the week. Both two teams can challenge the LEC throne. They’re brimming with potential, in sync and aggressive with a fantastic read on the meta. There’s also no weak link. You might argue that one player is better than the other. But, they’re all insanely talented and shown more than enough potential in the recent past.

This will also be a fight between two entirely different narratives. Origen is a veteran-heavy squad. They have all the potential in the world and are coming in hot after dismantling Fnatic with staggering ease. They’re all veterans. Yet, their play hasn’t regressed at all over the years. Even their Oceania import in the bottom lane performed at an insanely high level (despite what many expected). It’s still too early to predict anything with confidence, but no one will be overly surprised if this Origen line-up ends up in the LEC Spring Split finals.

Rogue, on the other hand, is a roster infused with youth and vigor. The players are all young, but also incredibly confident. They know this is their time to shine. They’re fighting for every inch of the Summoner’s Rift. Such bravado-fueled play was, in a way, a trademark of Team Vitality (the old, carnivorous one). But Rogue is different. The team is more layered, patient, and are well-rounded and capable of duking things out in all stages of the game. They also have a surprising amount of mental fortitude, and they’ll need it if they want to challenge for the throne.

This game is an absolute must-watch regardless of your allegiance. It’s hard not to side with Origen primarily because of their momentum and sheer experience, but Rogue stand a puncher’s chance.

Either way, this is arguably the hardest test for Origen not called G2 Esports. If they pass it, they’ll have every right to deem themselves as the second-best team in the region.

FRIDAY — Week 2, Day 1: Excel Esports vs MAD Lions

The match-up is perhaps equally as fascinating, but for a couple of different reasons. Excel Esports are coming in hot after taking down Schalke 04 and losing a very close game to Rogue. The sheer fact that they’re on everyone’s radar right now is mind-blowing. After all, they were the laughing stock of the region for so long. But a couple of intelligent roster changes later, Excel is now considered as a lock for the playoffs.

Their play is also unexpectedly stellar. They haven’t displayed any glaring weakness over their last two games. There’s still work to be done, but they’re incredibly solid and meshed surprisingly well over a short time. They have mechanical prowess, experience and the urge to win.

The team is also having a lot of fun in the process. We’ve seen how big of an impact that can have on a team. G2 Esports always competes with a smile. Even in defeat, they stand strong as a five-man unit, permeated with friendship. If Excel can create a similar spark, they might as well upset the established LEC order.

Opposite them, we have MAD Lions, a promising young squad that’s also looking to leave a mark in the grand scheme of things. They had an unforgiving start to the season by facing the reigning champions G2 Esports, but even in that very first opening game, they displayed admirable resilience and fortitude. They had a game plan and executed it perfectly in the early game with a sizeable lead over the defending “kings of Europe.”

That’s not a bad start for a team that doesn’t stand out in any obvious way. But they’re solid with an equally strong coaching staff behind them. If they continue to grow and build on their commendable foundation, they’re bound to challenge for the playoffs. They’re by no means perfect, but watching their development over the coming weeks should be on the top of everyone’s priorities. For all we know, there might be a Rasmus “Caps” Winther or a Luka “Perkz” Perković among them, eagerly awaiting to step into the spotlight.

FRIDAY — Week 2, Day 1: Schalke 04 vs Fnatic

This is a big one, but perhaps for unexpected reasons. There’s so much history shared between all these players, which doesn’t necessarily mean the match itself will deliver. With so many experienced veterans between both rosters, it’s hard not to tune in and see where each team is at and how much they’ve improved from Week 1.

Fnatic enter this week with a somewhat acceptable 1W-1L week, but their play certainly left a lot to be desired. There were a couple of stand-out moments, but overall, they just didn’t look as good as many expected. Then again, Fnatic is known for their slow starts, so it feels like everything is going according to plan. They’re still meshing with Oskar “Selfmade” Boderek, and that one change to their starting line-up affected them more than expected.

Despite a somewhat shaky start, they’re still Fnatic. They’re still equipped with all the right weapons to accomplish great things. If recent history taught us anything, it is the fact that Fnatic should never be underestimated. That said, they’re currently playing in a weakened state. So, if there’s ever a chance of them losing in unexpected fashion, now would be it.

Schalke, however, was far less impressive. They did a couple of things right, but overall, most fans were disappointed, and with good reason. They were sloppy, often out of sync, and even when they had a lead, they weren’t quite sure what to do with it. Still, they’re going through growing pains, and that’s expected from a line-up this fresh.

They’re all so incredibly aggressive, and they start swinging from the moment they spawn on the Rift. If they harness such potential and channel it in the right way, they should be able to string a couple of wins. It’s still hard to give them the benefit of the doubt against Fnatic, but they’ll make it a competitive affair, nonetheless.

Finally, watching two AD behemoths clash in the bottom lane is a spectacle. Try not to miss it.

SATURDAY — Week 2, Day 2: Origen vs G2 Esports

Finally, to close out the week, we have an absolute spectacle. Out of all 2020 LEC week 2 matches, this one stands out the most, and with good reason. All signs point towards Origen as the fiercest and most dangerous challenger for the LEC throne. They don’t have any big weakness or Achilles’ heel. That, however, doesn’t mean they can’t succumb to a titan of G2’s caliber. After all, G2 can make even the most well-rounded team look like a bunch of scrubs. They’re that flexible and talented.

That said, this Origen line-up certainly poses a unique challenge for the G2 dynasty, and you can bet that the defending champs aren’t taking this one lightly. Speaking of G2, their two opening performances were both hot and cold. Such a thing was expected seeing how they’re still adapting to their latest roster shuffle, but they’re still somewhat vulnerable. They’re still every bit as dangerous and unhinged as they were in 2019, but they’ll need a bit of time before getting back to that level of power.

Fortunately, they’re still an absolute behemoth. They’re the heavy favorites to win yet another LEC title in rather spectacular fashion. The road to that point, however, might be a bit harder than most expect. G2 has to fend off multiple talented challengers, and right now, they have Origen ahead.

The defending champions deserve everyone’s benefit of the doubt at this point. After seeing them fumble and fail in a couple of critical areas, the stage has been set for an Origen upset. Still, G2 are always capable of surprising us in the most unexpected of ways, and this clash is no different. Regardless of the outcome, we’ll get to see two of the best European teams now fight on the Summoner’s Rift. Saturday can’t come soon enough.

That’s it for our list of 2020 LEC week 2 matches you need to watch! The 2020 season just begun. Yet, we’ve already witnessed some insanely competitive League of Legends from the stacked European region. If things continue in this fashion, we should be in for one heck of a season.