As the Demacia Cup 2024 enters its group stage, one of the most anticipated matchups features EDward Gaming (EDG) facing off against Bilibili Gaming Junior (BLG Junior).

This clash marks their second meeting in the tournament, and both teams will be fighting for crucial points as they look to secure a spot in the play-offs.

EDG enters the match as the favorites, but BLG Junior has shown that they can deliver surprising performances.

Here’s a breakdown of the teams’ current forms and their chances in the upcoming match.

EDward Gaming’s Recent Performance

EDward Gaming, once a powerhouse in Chinese esports, has faced mixed results in recent years.

Despite their historical success, including making it to Worlds in 2022 and a top-three finish in the LPL Spring 2023, the team has struggled to maintain its dominant form.

In 2023, EDG was unable to qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational, which was seen as a significant setback.

Their performance in the LPL Summer 2023 was slightly better, as they managed to reach the quarter-finals before falling to TES, but their performance in international events has left much to be desired.

At the Demacia Cup 2023, EDG faced an early exit after losing all their matches in the group stage, finishing in the bottom ranks.

This disappointing result was followed by an equally underwhelming performance in the LPL Spring 2024, where they ended with a 3-13 record.

While EDG has had some success in third-party tournaments like the Esports Shanghai Masters 2023, where they defeated Gen.G, their recent form suggests they may not be as dominant as they once were.

In terms of champions, EDG has a varied pool of picks. Top laners like Fiora, Sion, Kenen, and Renekton have been frequent choices, with Fiora and Sion achieving solid results.

In the jungle, Maokai has been a standout performer with a perfect win rate, followed by i.

In the bot lane, Zeri has been their most successful pick, boasting a 100% win rate across several matches.

Bilibili Gaming Junior’s Form

BLG Junior, on the other hand, has had a turbulent season.

While they didn’t make a big impact in the LDL, the lower-tier league of the LPL, they started to show improvement toward the end of the season, finishing in the mid-range.

They have already kicked off the Demacia Cup 2024 with a strong win over FunPlus Phoenix, which could indicate that they are starting to find their rhythm.

The team has been led by players like Lqh, Luoyiyu, and Yxl, who have shown promise despite their relatively low profile compared to EDG.

BLG Junior has had mixed performances in the past, but their main roster, Bilibili Gaming, made waves by finishing in the top two of the LPL, qualifying for the Mid-Season Invitational, and reaching the grand finals.

Their impressive run continued at Worlds 2023, where they managed to beat Gen.G but were ultimately eliminated by T1 in the semi-finals.

Despite these challenges, BLG Junior’s recent form suggests they could put up a strong fight against EDG.

When it comes to champion picks, BLG Junior has tended to favor champions like Gnar and Gwen in the top lane, though their performance with these picks has been inconsistent.

In the jungle, Vi has been their most reliable pick, although Wukong and Nidalee have also appeared frequently, with mixed results.

In the bot lane, Lucian and Zeri have been the mainstays, although Lucian has had better success when paired with Nami or Karma.

Head-to-Head History

EDward Gaming and Bilibili Gaming Junior have not faced each other head-to-head before, making this match particularly intriguing.

EDG enters the game as the favorites, but BLG Junior has already demonstrated that they are capable of upsetting stronger opponents.

With BLG Junior’s growing form and EDG’s recent struggles, this match could go either way, and it will be interesting to see which team can step up in this crucial group stage encounter.

Match Prediction

Given the current form of both teams, BLG Junior may have the edge in this matchup.

While EDG has historically been the stronger team, their recent performances have been disappointing, and BLG Junior’s recent victories suggest they are on an upward trajectory.

The odds reflect this, with EDG favored at 1.2 and BLG Junior at 4.5, but there’s a sense that the junior squad could pull off a surprise.

Predicted Result: BLG Junior Victory

This match promises to be an exciting one, and fans of both teams will be hoping for a thrilling encounter.

As the Demacia Cup progresses, both EDG and BLG Junior will look to build momentum heading into the play-offs.