European Rival Series: Veloce Looks To Secure Place In Promotion Tournament

By Stax

At the halfway point of the third week of Rival Series, half of the drama in Europe could be resolved. Veloce Esports faced a front-loaded schedule facing other top teams such as compLexity and Vikings, and has run the table so far with a 5-0 record in the first two weeks. A sixth win against play-in qualifiers ARG (2-1) would guarantee no worse than a 6-1 record. With Vikings (1-1) and compLexity (2-1) still to face each other at the end of the season it would guarantee no worse than a second place finish, and spot in the Promotion Tournament and a shot at returning to the Rocket League Championship Series.

Veloce Esports (5-0) vs. ARG (2-1)

Veloce's match against ARG is its only match this weekend, and is up second on the schedule. It follows a grueling second week where Veloce had to face both Vikings and compLexity, then play on the Rival Esports stream later on that same day against Method. In all, Veloce played 14 games of Rocket League and 6:05 worth of overtime, requiring extra time in six different games. Veloce finished 3-3 in those extended contests. The biggest key for Veloce is its defense, allowing only 1.67 goals per game and tallying 4.48 saves per game. But while Veloce sits near the top of the league in those categories, the defense quickly transitions to scoring threats on the opposite end of the field. Former RLCS Most Valuable Player Nielskoek has benefited from that quick switch to offense, leading his team with just over 3 shots per game and 0.9 goals per game. Only Flakes (compLexity) has more, with 1.1 goals per game. Flakes has played 10 games, Nielskoek has played 21.

On the other side, the Spaniards of ARG might be one of the few teams who can match that kind of firepower. ARG leads the league with 2.33 goals per game, with both MaRc By 8 and GCR710 tied at 0.83 in the same category. ARG has also allowed only 1.67 goals per contest, but in nine fewer games than its opposition. Both teams are also at the top of the league in shooting percentage, with ARG scoring on almost 32% of its shots and Veloce at 28.83%. If ARG is going to keep up the pace with Veloce and jam up the top end of the standings, it will need try to cool off FlamE and Nielskoek, and force someone other than FreaKii to defend the back line. If ARG allows Veloce to get too comfortable on defense, Veloce will indeed secure a place in the Promotion Tournament.
Prediction: Veloce wins 3-1

Method (1-3) vs. Baguette Squad (1-2)

The first match of the day features two teams that, while not eliminated from top-2 contention, are certainly not in control of their own fate. Method has history working against it, as no team with three losses has ever finished in the top two. A 4-3 record can still potentially save Method's season and secure its spot for next season by finish in the top four, but Method will need to be perfect. Rix Ronday and Borito B have been together now for three straight seasons of the Rival Series, and are on their third different teammate with Oscillon. The newcomer has struggled to get anything going offensively, averaging only 0.41 goals on 1.29 shots. He's not the only one - all three members of Method are among the bottom 10 goal scorers in the league. Rix Ronday bottoms out at 0.35 goals per game, lowest in the league.

Method's best chance to put shots on net and light up the scoreboard may very well be this match, as Baguette Squad averages almost as many saves (5.55) as it does shots (5.82) per game. Despite allowing a league-worst 8.82 shots per game, the Frenchmen have managed to slide just under the 2 goals allowed per game threshold. RizuaL and Extra each average two saves per game through 11 games, with RizuaL part of a four-way tie including FreaKii (Veloce), Maestro (Vikings), and Oscillon (Method) all with five savior medals for tallying 3 saves in a game. Expect a low-scoring series unless either of these teams makes some major adjustments.
Prediction: Baguette Squad wins 3-2

Baguette Squad (1-2) vs. The Rightovers (0-2)

Baguette Squad's second match of the day should be an even tougher test than the first. The Rightovers are looking for their first win of the season after being denied twice in their debut week. Not for lack of effort - Rightovers had a classic five-game series with Vikings before falling 3-1 to ARG to conclude the week. Last week marked the Rival Series debut of Bilbo, who scored the tying goal in his very first game as time expired to force overtime and lead Rightovers to a game one victory against Vikings. The rookie currently sits behind Flakes and Nielskoek with 0.89 goals per game, just ahead of FlamE, MaRc By 8, and GCR710.

With Baguette Squad being so defensive-minded, Rightovers may prove to be a favorable matchup. The Rightovers only averages 7.33 shots on target per game, albeit against stiff competition in Vikings and ARG. Skyline has been in positions similar to this in the past, however. His teammates Calix and Bilbo may rely heavily on his experience and composure as they reach the heart of their schedule already trying to play catch-up.
Prediction: The Rightovers win 3-1

ARG (2-1) vs. compLexity (2-1)

Judgement day for ARG concludes with another difficult task: Find a way to slow down the red-hot rookie Flakes. Both of these teams come in as the highest-scoring offenses in the league, with ARG leading the way at 2.33 per game and compLexity not far behind at 2.30. The difference between the two squads is compLexity averages over 9 shots per game. The only other team that's close is ZeNoMoon with one fewer series played. Many fans believe compLexity belongs in the RLCS, and the expectation at this point seems to be that this will be the team that joins Veloce in the Promotion Tournament.

But while Flakes has had a sizzling start to this season, ARG presents a three-headed attack that not many teams can replicate. All three members of the team rank in the top 10 in scoring average - MaRc By 8 and GCR710 each average 0.83 goals per game as mentioned above, while ClayX is 10th in the league at 0.67 per game. gReazymeister contributes heavily to the offensive success of compLexity with 0.80 goals, but Mognus is lagging well behind with only 0.40 per game, and sits at the bottom of the league with participation on only 43.48% of compLexity's goals. The question these teams will need to answer on Friday: Will the two-headed giant of Flakes and gReazy be able to match the "triple amenaza" of ARG? Expect a wild finish to the main broadcast in week three!
Prediction: compLexity wins 3-2

Rival Esports Stream

The Rightovers (0-2) vs. compLexity (2-1)

The frame of mind for The Rightovers may very well depend on its result against Baguette Squad earlier in the day. Regardless, on paper this should be a matchup that heavily favors compLexity. Add in the fact that the team will be playing almost immediately after whatever test it way receive against ARG, and all signs seem to point to compLexity being able to take care of business. Game differential could prove to be vitally important with ARG and Vikings trying to keep pace with compLexity through the season, so look for the favorites to try and end it quick.
Prediction: compLexity wins 3-0

Vikings (1-1) vs. Method (1-3)

This is another matchup that, on paper, doesn't look like it should be too suspenseful. But that was also the case with Veloce against Method last week, and Method nearly sprung the upset. Vikings will very likely have much more to play for in its only action of week three. All eyes should be on Maestro here, as he has been the driving force behind everything Vikings has done on both ends of the field. While Maestro has only scored in two of his team's 10 games, both instances were three-goal showings and those two hat tricks tie him with ClayX and Nielskoek this season. Both Maestro and MummiSnow have had a part in 65% of Vikings goals so far, and Maestro has racked up an average of 2.5 saves per game to lead the league by a significant margin. If the Vikings play like they did last week against Veloce and Rightovers, it should be a solid win for the former Fnatic boys.
Prediction: Vikings wins 3-1

All of the action kicks off on Friday at www.twitch.tv/RocketLeague - with the final two matches taking place on www.twitch.tv/RivalEsports. The main show begins at 4:00 PM UTC, which is 12:00 noon on the U.S. east coast, and 9:00 AM pacific.