Astralis vs NIP - StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 2

The betting odds reflect the expected outcome, with Astralis listed at 1.76 compared to Ninjas in Pyjamas at 2.06. Astralis owns a very strong 67% winrate on Nuke across 27 maps in the last six months, and they frequently first-pick this map. Their consistent veto strategy of first-picking Nuke and often first-picking Ancient gives them a clear advantage in the draft phase. While they've experienced a decline to 40% winrate last month, their overall half-year performance demonstrates championship-level capabilities.

Ninjas in Pyjamas enters with hot recent form at 75% winrate last month and a three-match winning streak in Stage 1. However, their recent victories came against lower-tier opponents like Fluxo and Lynn Vision. They excel on Nuke with 73% winrate across 26 maps, but the map overlap creates problems when both teams heavily prioritize it. NiP struggles significantly on Mirage and Inferno with just 25% and 33% winrates respectively, giving Astralis clear targets in the veto process.

Astralis has faced tougher competition in their recent matches, taking down teams like The MongolZ and Natus Vincere while securing wins against Aurora and Falcons. Their experience against top-tier opposition will prove crucial in high-pressure moments. Despite weak performances on Train and Dust2, Astralis can leverage their map pool depth to avoid these pitfalls. The combination of superior recent opponent quality, championship pedigree, and favorable odds positioning makes Astralis the smart pick to advance through Group Stage 2.