Liquid vs. Vitality, Preview & Prediction - Free 2/20 CS:GO

Vitality is a favorite in this Best of 3 encounter when they take on Liquid in the Group B upper bracket semi-final of the IEM Katowice 2021 on Saturday. The winning side will advance to the Group B Upper final and meet a winner of the tilt between FURIA and Natus Vincere. On the other hand, the losing team will go down to the Lower bracket and face a winner from the match between NIP and Virtus.pro.

Liquid Team Stats and Latest Results

Liquid didn’t play well at the BLAST Premier Global Final 2020 and BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2021, but they managed to earn $57.500 for their efforts. The American team qualified for the IEM Katowice 2021 thanks to victories over MIBR and OG, while they opened the main event with a 2-0 win over FaZe. Liquid won eight of the previous 13 matches.

In the last three months, Liquid played well on Mirage (60.0% win rate) and Vertigo (60.0%), while they were below average on Overpass (40.0%) and Inferno (46.2%). Liquid is playing with the same lineup since January 2021 and appeared on 20 maps with a record of 11 wins and nine losses. The team members are FalleN (1.02 rating), NAF (1.12), EliGE (1.11), Stewie2K (0.95), and Grim (1.03).

Vitality Team Stats and Latest Results

Vitality also took part at the BLAST Premier Global Final 2020 and BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2021, and just like Liquid, they didn’t win a trophy but they earned more money than the Americans, $85,000. They didn’t have to play qualification games to make it to the IEM Katowice 2021, where they defeated OG 2-0 - a win that snapped a four-game losing streak. Vitality won 11 of the last 17 games.

During the previous three months, Vitality was strong on Overpass (80.0%) and Mirage (75.0%), while they were average only on Nuke. Vitality has been playing with a new squad since February this year and appeared on five maps with a record of three wins and two losses. The lineup consists of shox (1.11), RpK (1.03), ZywOo (1.33), misutaaa (1.05), and Nivera (1.06).

Liquid vs. Vitality H2H Record

These rivals have met on six occasions so far, and Vitality is leading the all-time series 4-2. Vitality was better in the most recent tilt a month ago at the BLAST Premier Global Final 2020.

Liquid vs. Vitality Betting Preview

Liquid is in a better form at the moment, and although Vitality is a higher-ranked team and has a better H2H record, I am not going to back the favorites here. I expect to see a close encounter that could go either way and even though only one of four Best of 3 H2H duels produced a maximum of three maps, I am going with Over 2.5 maps on Saturday.

The Pick: Over 2.5 Maps (-101 @GG.BET)