Fnatic Swept by Schalke 04 in LEC Spring Split Playoffs
It’s a bittersweet day for Fnatic fans as Schalke 04 emerges victorious in the 2021 LEC Spring Split playoffs. In a dominant performance, Schalke 04 swept Fnatic, securing their place in the tournament.
Fnatic’s elimination from the playoffs marks their first time finishing outside the top three in Europe since the 2016 Summer Split. At that time, Fnatic’s League of Legends roster consisted of Kikis, Spirit, Febiven, Rekkles, and YellOwStaR, and they were eliminated by H2K Gaming.
On the other hand, Schalke 04 showcased clean, precise, and decisive gameplay throughout all three games. Many fans didn’t expect them to perform this well in the postseason, but they proved their strength by not only forcing G2 Esports to five games but also eliminating Fnatic with a sweep.
Schalke seemed to have a deep understanding of Fnatic’s weaknesses, particularly in their first game where they turned Fnatic’s overaggression against them. This issue plagued Fnatic throughout the season and resurfaced once again during this series.
For instance, in the third game, Fnatic won a significant fight in the bottom lane. However, their decision to dive behind a turret for another kill on Abbedagge played right into the hands of the 21-year-old mid laner, who turned the fight and secured a game-changing triple kill.
Nevertheless, Schalke’s victory cannot be undermined. They were the superior team, showcasing confidence in taking fights and exercising patience. Despite having the potential to make overaggressive mistakes like Fnatic, they kept their composure, made smart decisions, and maintained their lead.
On the flip side, the future of Fnatic’s current iteration raises numerous questions. With their worst season finish since 2016, it’s evident that significant changes are necessary to steer the team back in the right direction.
In the next matchup of the 2021 LEC Spring Split playoffs, Schalke will face off against Rogue. This series promises to be tough, but as we’ve witnessed, anything is possible in the LEC.
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