Natus Vincere - Shopify Rebellion predictions and free betting tips [20/05/2024]

DreamLeague Season 23 is upon us. The group stages are well underway, and in Group B, we’ve got the last match not only of the group but also of the entire first day of the group stage. This crucial encounter sees the underdogs face off in a battle to secure some points by the end of the group tournament. Eastern Europe will clash with North America as Natus Vincere takes on Shopify Rebellion.

Natus Vincere

The team from Eastern Europe made it to this tournament somewhat unexpectedly. Yes, they did triumph in the Eastern Europe qualifiers. However, circumstances favoured them as they made strategic substitutions just in time for the qualifiers, which kept the team synergy fresh and allowed for the creation of new strategies. Their opponents, Virtus.pro, were the only real challenge and they pushed Natus Vincere to the lower bracket. However, a new patch was released just before the grand final, slightly altering the meta, which could have hindered VP from outplaying their opponents in the decisive match for the slot. It’s been almost two months since Natus Vincere’s last match, and they haven’t been in action since their qualifying victory. It’s unclear what state the team is currently in while other teams have been constantly playing. I don’t see much potential in this squad; to me, they’re the main underdog of the tournament.

Shopify Rebellion

It’s going to be fascinating to see how the North American team performs in yet another tournament with a reworked roster. This time, Rolando Gabriel ‘Skem’ Ong will be playing in the position five role. It’s uncertain how they will fare in this tournament with him. Theoretically, Shopify Rebellion even have a shot at qualifying for Riyadh Masters 2024 based on points, albeit a slim one. If they perform well in this tournament, they might earn a direct invitation to the event from their region. However, North America has not warranted an invite as of now. Having failed to reach the playoffs in any tier-1 tournament over the past five months, there isn’t much positive to report. Regarding their group stage prospects, Shopify Rebellion might battle for the lower bracket in the playoffs, but it’s tough to believe given how weak they’ve looked so far.

Head-to-head

Natus Vincere and Shopify Rebellion have yet to face each other.

Prediction

BetCity considers Shopify Rebellion the favourites in this match, offering odds of 2.80 for a victory for the North American team. Meanwhile, Natus Vincere’s win is pegged at 4.30, and a draw stands at 2.06. This indicates that bookmakers are leaning more towards a draw. However, I am inclined to believe in Shopify Rebellion's victory as I have little faith in the Eastern European team. Therefore, I’ll go with a win for Shopify Rebellion at an excellent coefficient.