IEM Cologne 2022 continues with big matches on Saturday as the lower-bracket matches are set with a number of clashes between some of the more popular teams in CS:GO.
Saturday's slate of matches at IEM Cologne 2022 features plenty of intriguing match-ups, including clashes between two of North America's top teams as Team Liquid takes on 00NATION.
There is also a huge clash between Team Spirit and FaZe Clan, while Cloud9 and Astralis are also on the schedule.
Team Liquid vs 00Nation
What | Team Liquid vs 00Nation, CS:GO, IEM Cologne |
| Where | Germany |
| When | 11:00 BST Saturday 9th July 2022 |
How to watch | ESL CS:GO Twitch Page |
| Odds | Team Liquid 4/9, 00Nation 13/8 |
Team Liquid and 00NATION are both looking to keep their hopes alive as the teams meet in a lower-bracket match in Group B.
Neither team has proven much thus far at IEM Cologne 2022, as they both suffered losses in their opening matches.
Liquid is fresh off a 2-1 loss at the hands of Team Spirit, while 00NATION failed to score a map win as they were swept by a heavily favored FaZe team.
The last head-to-head meeting for these teams was during ESL Pro League Season 15, when 00NATION was still playing under the GODSENT name.
They failed to secure a map win losing on Ancient 16-4, before Liquid closed the match out 16-6 on Dust2.
00NATION has shown little promise with dumau playing at an elite level, as he currently averages 0.81 kills per round. NAF has been the most consistent player for Liquid as he currently averages 0.78 kills per round.
Both teams are outside the top 10 in the world rankings and it seems like Liquid has really taken a step in the wrong direction as of late.
Still given their recent history in head-to-head matches, the edge goes to Team Liquid to get it done in two maps.
Team Spirit vs FaZe Clan
What | Team Spirit vs FaZe Clan, CS:GO, IEM Cologne |
| Where | Germany |
| When | 15:00 BST Saturday 9th July 2022 |
How to watch | ESL CS:GO Twitch Page |
| Odds | Team Spirit 11/4, FaZe Clan 1/4 |
Team Spirit look to continue their recent run of victories when they face Faze Clan in a Group B upper-bracket semi-final match.
Spirit is fresh off taking down Team Liquid in their opening match of IEM Cologne 2022, which they were able to do in three maps to mark their third-straight match win.
FaZe was able to shutdown 00NATION in their opening match, cruising to a 2-0 victory.
These teams know each other well as they last faced-off at PGL Major Antwerp earlier this year. That was a match to remember with FaZe winning in two maps.
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Yet that wasn't the most exciting part of that meeting as both maps were high scoring. FaZe won on Mirage 16-13, before a very tough challenge for Team Spirit on the second map Dust2, which needed extra rounds in which FaZe eventually prevailed 25-23.
FaZe sits as the #1 ranked team in the world and they will be determined to keep a lock on their standing, which they can do by reaching the Group B Finals.
Team Spirit is lucky to be in this situation as they only got in based on their current ranking.
Spirit should put up a strong fight, but they lack the firepower to limit FaZe in the end, with FaZe expected to win on the -1.5 handicap.
Cloud9 vs Astralis
What | Cloud9 vs Astralis, CS:GO, IEM Cologne |
| Where | Germany |
| When | 15:00 BST Saturday 9th July 2022 |
How to watch | ESL CS:GO Twitch Page |
| Odds | Cloud9 4/11, Astralis 2/1 |
This is likely the must-see match of Saturday's slate, as Cloud9 will try to get the best of Astralis for the third-straight time in 2022.
Astralis has put up a strong fight in recent head-to-head meetings against Cloud9 but has still fallen short.
Astralis comes in on a three-match winning streak, which includes a 2-0 victory over FURIA to reach this Group B upper-bracket semi-final.
On the flipside Cloud9 was able to take down Outsiders in their opening match.
The last time these squads met was in June during the Roobet Cup 2022, which saw Cloud9 win in two maps.
On both maps Cloud9 held Astralis to just seven round wins to register a relatively easy success.
These teams know each other so well, and it will be interesting to see whether blameF can lead Astralis past sh1ro and Cloud9.
BlameF has had strong stats as of late with a 0.81 average of kills per round.
However, with wins in four out of their last five matches, the slight edge goes to Cloud9.
