Here's everything you need to know about the first day of action in the Europe League 2024 Stage 1:
Fnatic vs. G2 Esports
The biggest European derby in esports will occur in the Europe League 2024 later today as Fnatic and G2 Esports will meet in a Rainbow Six Siege official match for the first time in over four years.
The proportions of G2 Esports and Fnatic's rivalship are comparable to Real Madrid and FC Barcelona's in football. Therefore, some esports fans call this clash the "Clásico" of esports.
Before today, both organizations had only met twice in Rainbow Six Siege:
- PL Season 8 Finals Semifinals: G2 Esports 2-0 Fnatic (6-0 Bank, 6-0 Coastline)
- Six Invitational 2020: Fnatic 2-1 G2 Esports (7-5 Kafe Dostoyevsky, 4-7 Border, 7-5 Villa)
Much water has flowed under the bridge since then. Fnatic went through a rebuild as the organization's plans in Japan were broken by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, G2 Esports saw the retirements of Fabian "Fabian" Hällsten and Niclas "Pengu" Mouritzen and went through countless player moves.
Ironically, Aleksi "UUNO" Työppönnen and Jake "Virtue" Grannan are the only players who had featured in Feb. 2020's match who will also be present in today's clash. Back then, however, the Australian was in Fnatic.
The clash is set to start at 7 PM CET, as both teams will meet in the third game of the match day.
Team BDS vs. WYLDE
Today will be the first time we see WYLDE's new roster, which includes three new additions in Juhani "Kantoraketti" Toivonen, Leon "neLo" Pesić, and Lorenzo "Lollo" Masuccio.
They aren't the only squad presenting a new project as Team BDS' new signings Fatih "Solotov" Turker and Josh "Tyrant" Pritchard will make their top-flight debuts for the French-speaking org. Therefore, this means that the former MNM Gaming duo will play against the Croatian IGL for the first time since the roster parted ways with the marshmallows.
Team BDS and WYLDE will meet today in Monday's final match. Both organizations have met three times before, with the yellow roster having won two of them — including a 2-1 victory at the Europe League 2023 Stage 1 Last Chance Qualifier.
ENCE vs. Team Secret
ENCE's squad will make its top-flight debut against Team Secret. Curiously enough, the former Team Valor boys defeated Team Secret twice at the R6 South Breach before the French-majority roster won the off-season tournament.
However, Marlon "Twister" Mello's squad has slightly changed since then. The Brazilian coach brought the former Team Liquid analyst Marcelo "mcunha" Cunha and Adrian "Adrian" Tryka. Additionally, the European roster decided to keep Marc "Jume" Steinmann.
Into the Breach vs. Wolves Esports
Wolves Esports and Into the Breach will clash in the second match of the day. While the Frenchmen are the favorites to take the victory, the British-majority roster wants to spoil Wolves' start to the season.
Both organizations have only met once in Rainbow Six Siege, as Wolves Esports defeated Into the Breach (1-2) in the Europe League 2023 Stage 2.