On Wednesday the first day of action in Copenhagen will take place, when 16 teams fight for a chance to play at the stage in Lisbon for the BLAST Open Lisboa 2025. The initial stage of the tournament is played on LAN in Copenhagen. On Day 1 we’ll see some exciting matchups, which we will give our best betting tips on here.
Spirit vs. The Huns (12:00 CET)
Betting Tip: Spirit to win 2-0 (Handicap -1.5 maps)
Team Spirit enter this matchup as overwhelming favorites, given their red-hot form in early 2025. They dominated the ESL Pro League group stage without dropping a series and reached the semifinals of that event, reinforcing their status as a world-top team. In fact, Spirit have even held the world No.1 ranking recently, powered by the emergence of their teenage prodigy donk, who posted a staggering 1.74 rating in Pro League group play. By contrast, The Huns are a surprise participant and one of the tournament’s biggest underdogs – they only secured their spot after BLAST disqualified ATOX (the Asian qualifier winners) and invited The Huns as replacements. It’s no shock that bookmakers gave The Huns long-shot odds of 351.00 to win the entire event, reflecting the huge gap on paper between these teams.
Spirit’s strength lies in their balanced approach and superior firepower. Veteran in-game leader chopper has molded Spirit into a well-structured squad that can explode in mid-rounds thanks to sharp aimers like donk. The team’s coordination and tactical depth were on full display in recent events, and they’ve proven capable of beating elite opposition with teamwork and individual brilliance. The Huns, on the other hand, will rely on an upset-minded, aggressive style – a hallmark of the Mongolian scene from which they hail. Players like nin9 and Bart4k have shown flashes of skill in regional competitions, but they are stepping up to an entirely different level of competition here. Their raw aim and fearless playstyle might net them some surprising rounds, but sustaining that against a team of Spirit’s caliber is a daunting task.
Key players to watch include Spirit’s rifling phenom donk, who has quickly become one of the most talked-about talents in CS2. If he continues his form, he can single-handedly take over stretches of the game with multi-kills and clutch plays. For The Huns, nin9 – known for his sharp aim – and Bart4k – an experienced AWPer in the Asian scene – must have career-best performances to make this match competitive. They’ll need to capitalize on any over-aggression or mistakes from Spirit to stand a chance.
Barring a monumental upset, this opening match is expected to be one-sided in Spirit’s favor. Spirit simply have more firepower, better teamwork, and extensive big-match experience. The Huns might keep a map close if Spirit start slow or underestimate them, but the skill gap should ultimately result in a straight-sets victory for the favorites. A 2-0 sweep for Spirit is the most likely outcome, and it would be a major shock to see anything else. For casual bettors, backing Spirit to win convincingly (e.g. a -1.5 map handicap) offers a sensible play given the lopsided nature of this matchup.
MOUZ vs. Falcons (14:30 CET)
Betting Tip: MOUZ to win (match winner)
This matchup promises to be a thrilling clash between a well-oiled contender and a newly formed super-team. MOUZ come into BLAST Open Lisboa in outstanding form – they have been on a tear lately, reaching back-to-back grand finals in recent tournaments. The international squad lifted the PGL Cluj-Napoca trophy just weeks ago and followed it up with a runner-up finish at ESL Pro League Season 21. During that Pro League run, MOUZ took down top teams like Spirit in the semifinal before falling to Vitality in the final, proving they can hang with the world’s best. Their roster has gelled nicely under the leadership of coach sycrone and the addition of Brollan, and they carry significant momentum and confidence into this event. In contrast, Team Falcons are a star-studded new lineup still finding their footing. Backed by heavy investment, Falcons have assembled big names including NiKo and Magisk – two legendary riflers – alongside TeSeS, degster, and kyxsan. On paper, that gives them a wealth of talent and experience (even legendary coach zonic is guiding them), but this roster has only been together for a short time. Falcons showed flashes of their potential in early outings but also stumbled at ESL Pro League (they failed to reach playoffs, being the only top-9 ranked team to miss out) as they work out roles and chemistry.
This battle is shaping up to be highly competitive, and it could very well be the closest match of Day 1. MOUZ’s proven form and teamwork make them slight favorites – they have the advantage of consistency and confidence from recent victories. However, the sheer skill on the Falcons lineup means they are more than capable of taking this series to the wire. One possible scenario is a three-map slugfest, where MOUZ’s better coordination ekes out a win in the decider; another scenario is Falcons catching MOUZ off-guard early with individual brilliance and snowballing to an upset. For bettors, a sensible approach might be to back MOUZ to win given their stability and track record, but be aware that Falcons have the firepower to snatch a map or even the match if their stars align. In summary, expect momentum swings and highlight plays from both sides – experience and teamwork tilt the odds to MOUZ, but this one should be a thriller rather than a stomp.
Vitality vs. Astralis (17:00 CET)
Betting Tip: Astralis +1.5 maps (Astralis to win at least one map)
The marquee matchup of Day 1 features two giants of Counter-Strike in very different phases of development. Team Vitality enter as the reigning ESL Pro League Season 21 champions, riding a wave of success with their new-look lineup. Despite undergoing roster changes over the winter, Vitality have hit the ground running in 2025 – they triumphed at IEM Katowice and then dominated the Pro League finals, crushing MOUZ 3-0 to claim the title. With these back-to-back trophies, Vitality have firmly reasserted themselves as one of the world’s elite teams. Their lineup is stacked: superstar AWPer ZywOo continues to be arguably the best player on the planet, and the addition of ropz has given the team another world-class playmaker to fill the void left by departing members. Alongside them, flameZ provides explosive entry fragging, mezii offers smart rifling and clutch ability, and veteran captain apEX ties it all together with his aggressive calling. This blend of firepower and experience has made Vitality a formidable force that can excel on both slow, tactical rounds and fast-paced explosive plays. On the other side, Astralis have undergone a massive rebuild and are looking to climb back to the top with a revitalized roster. They earned their spot in Lisbon by dominating the European BLAST qualifier – Astralis went undefeated there, showcasing the potential of their new lineup as device posted a stellar 1.27 rating across the event. This Astralis 2025 roster is a star-studded Danish powerhouse in its own right: legendary AWPer device is joined by three former Heroic members – cadiaN, stavn, and jabbi – plus young rifler Staehr. The combination of device and cadiaN alone brings two veteran voices and an wealth of big-game experience (between them, multiple Major titles and MVPs). cadiaN has taken on in-game leadership duties after moving over from Heroic, and he’ll be determined to guide Astralis back to glory. While this new Astralis showed great promise in the qualifier and boasts incredible talent on paper, they have yet to be truly tested against a top-five team on LAN – making this encounter with Vitality a huge early test of their mettle.
Vitality’s strengths are centered around their star power and well-rounded playstyle. ZywOo is the ultimate win condition; his absurd consistency and playmaking with the AWP can take over any game. If he is allowed to roam and find picks, Astralis will be under constant pressure. The mid-round duo of ropz and flameZ gives Vitality a nice balance – ropz is known for his clutch lurks and late-round impact, while flameZ plays with high-tempo aggression to crack open bombsites. With apEX calling, Vitality often favor an up-tempo approach, using flash aggression and trading to unsettle opponents. However, they can also slow the pace and let ropz and ZywOo work picks when needed. In terms of tactics, coach XTQZZZ has crafted strategies that enable ZywOo and company to shine without being predictable. Astralis, meanwhile, bring a very intriguing set of strengths. They effectively have two top-tier AWPers in the lineup – device is the primary sniper, but cadiaN can secondary AWP whenever needed, creating a dynamic double AWP threat in certain situations. This can catch teams off guard, though whether Astralis deploy it against Vitality’s style remains to be seen. More importantly, Astralis’s rifling trio of stavn, jabbi, and Staehr provides a mix of explosive firepower and youthful energy. stavn and jabbi were centerpieces of Heroic’s success in recent years, known for their excellent trading and mid-round decision making. Under cadiaN’s leadership, they’re used to an aggressive, pack-play style – something that could mirror Vitality’s pace. Astralis might lean on a structured approach with cadiaN’s calls, trying to use utility to contain Vitality’s playmakers and set up device for impact picks. One clear difference is team stability: Vitality’s core (apEX and ZywOo) has been together for years, and even with new additions the team has a defined system, whereas Astralis are in the early days of establishing roles and chemistry. This could show in tight late-round scenarios or if things go to a third map, where Vitality’s familiarity gives them an edge.
The key player matchup everyone will be watching is ZywOo vs. device. These are two superstar AWPers and former Major MVPs; ZywOo is at the peak of his powers, while device has been in excellent form since his return to Astralis. If device can go toe-to-toe with ZywOo in opening duels and clutch situations, Astralis have a fighting chance in this series. He was Astralis’s top performer in the qualifier and will need to replicate that level here. For Vitality, aside from ZywOo’s expected impact, ropz could be the x-factor. The last time these teams met (albeit with different rosters), ropz was on the opposing side with FaZe – now he’s in a Vitality jersey and looking incredibly comfortable. His lurking and gamesense might punish any slow rotations or gaps in Astralis’s setups. On Astralis’s side, cadiaN is a key figure beyond just fragging – as the IGL, his mid-round calls and mental game against apEX will be crucial. CadiaN is known for his clutch rounds and intense leadership; he’ll try to inspire Astralis to play fearless CS. Keep an eye on jabbi as well – he was a breakout star in 2024 and has the talent to put up big numbers even against top opposition. If jabbi and stavn can out-duel Vitality’s riflers (flameZ and mezii) consistently, Astralis could turn this into a real contest.
Expect this matchup to be highly strategic and closer than the seeding might suggest. Vitality are justifiable favorites – they have championship pedigree, better teamwork from longer together, and the best player in the server. Many predict them to win in two maps, but Astralis have enough quality to make each map tight. Given Astralis’s firepower and leadership, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take a map or at least push Vitality to the brink. The question will be whether Astralis can maintain composure in crunch rounds against such a battle-tested opponent. A likely scenario is Vitality winning 2-1: Astralis coming out swinging (perhaps riding the hype of their new roster to win one map or keep it very close), before Vitality’s experience and consistency prevail in the end. From a betting perspective, Astralis +1.5 maps (meaning Astralis to win at least one map) could be a savvy pick for those expecting a hard-fought series. Vitality ultimately should have the edge to win the match, but don’t count Astralis out of making this a nail-biter. All eyes will be on how well this new Astralis can challenge a top-tier Vitality – it’s a classic matchup with a fresh twist, and it should deliver an exciting showdown.
FaZe vs. Virtus.pro (19:30 CET)
Betting Tip: FaZe Clan to win (match winner)
Day 1 concludes with another high-profile encounter: FaZe Clan versus Virtus.pro. FaZe Clan have undergone notable roster changes since last season, but they remain a star-studded lineup expected to go far in Lisbon. Over the winter break, FaZe refreshed their squad by bringing in frozen and EliGE, two proven talents, to join the core of karrigan, rain, and broky. This new lineup mixes FaZe’s championship-winning experience with some fresh firepower. frozen – who was MOUZ’s standout performer – has seamlessly integrated into FaZe and now shoulders a lot of the mid-round fragging duty that ropz used to provide. EliGE, a veteran rifler from NA, adds fire and motivation after departing Team Liquid; he’s known for his aggressive rifling and might flourish under karrigan’s leadership. With broky still on the AWP and the ever-reliable duo of karrigan (IGL) and rain (entry fragger) setting the tone, FaZe’s playstyle should continue to be a blend of structured executes and individual brilliance. They had a respectable showing at recent events – FaZe made the playoffs at Pro League Season 21, though they fell short of a deep run, partly due to still ironing out the kinks with the new members. Now with a bit more practice under their belt, FaZe will look to kick off BLAST Open Lisboa on the right foot and assert themselves as contenders. Virtus.pro, by contrast, are in a rebuilding phase and enter this tournament as something of a dark horse. The VP organization made drastic changes after a disappointing 2024 season: most notably, long-time leader Jame was benched and later left the team, ending an era for the roster that won the Rio Major in 2022. In his place, VP have brought in electroNic – the former NAVI star – who has taken over leadership duties for 2025. The current Virtus.pro lineup features electroNic alongside holdovers FL1T and fame, with two newcomers FL4MUS and ICY rounding out the squad. This is a significant shift in style and identity: replacing Jame’s ultra-patient, slow-paced AWP-centric style with electroNic’s more rifle-heavy, faster approach. So far, the revamped VP have had limited chances to prove themselves on LAN. They missed out on ESL Pro League and had to rely on training and smaller events to build synergy. BLAST Open Lisboa will be their first major test as a new five, and drawing FaZe in the opener means they’ll need to hit the ground running.
Key players to watch will start with frozen on the FaZe side. He has been in stellar form and could feast against VP if he finds his comfort – his lurks and late-round clutches often turn the tide for FaZe. broky is another one; given VP’s less experienced AWPer, broky might have more freedom to take angles and pick off players without the fear of a Jame-style punish. For FaZe to avoid any hiccups, EliGE stepping up would be huge – if he can bring his trademark relentless aggression and entry some sites successfully, VP’s defenses might crumble. On Virtus.pro’s side, all eyes will be on electroNic. Not only is he calling the shots now, but he also needs to be the star fragger for this lineup. His duel with karrigan is an interesting clash of leadership styles: electroNic will likely be actively in the pack trying to entry or trade, whereas karrigan often hangs back to orchestrate. If electroNic can outmaneuver karrigan’s calls and also put up 20+ frags, VP could surprise. FL1T is another pivotal player – he’s been VP’s most consistent performer through past roster turbulence, and the team will rely on his output to stay in the game. Watch for FL1T in clutch scenarios; he has a knack for winning 1vX situations. As for the newcomers, ICY’s AWP impact is worth monitoring – if he struggles to find openings or gets shut down by broky, VP might have to lean heavily on rifles, which can be limiting. fame could be a silent difference-maker as well; if he can lock down bombsites on CT side and put up multi-kills when FaZe execute, he’ll give VP a fighting chance in each round.
Heading into this match, FaZe are favored to win and for good reason. They simply have more collective experience at this level and a more settled game plan. It’s reasonable to expect FaZe to take this in two maps, but Virtus.pro shouldn’t be written off entirely. Early in 2024, we saw FaZe occasionally drop maps to underdogs when their focus wavered, so VP will look to exploit any overconfidence. One potential scenario is FaZe coming out swinging and overwhelming VP with fast-paced plays, securing a comfortable 2-0. Another scenario is that VP, with nothing to lose, play loose and manage to steal a map (perhaps through a big performance by electroNic or FL1T) before FaZe regains control in the decider. In either case, FaZe’s win probability is high – their players have been in these situations countless times, whereas this version of VP is debuting under the spotlight. For bettors, a straight FaZe Clan win is the straightforward choice given the matchup dynamics. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, FaZe -1.5 maps is a reasonable pick as well, since a clean sweep is likely if they play to their standard. Virtus.pro will be hungry to prove themselves, but overcoming a battle-tested FaZe in a BO3 is a tall order. Overall, expect FaZe’s firepower and leadership to carry them through, while VP gain some valuable experience to build on.
