Passion UA vs FaZe - StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 3

FaZe enters this matchup riding the momentum of 67% win rate over the past month, significantly outpacing Passion UA's 53% form despite the Ukrainian squad's recent 2-0 upset over Liquid. The psychological advantage cannot be understated either. FaZe already defeated Passion UA in their only recent meeting on November 29th, establishing a mental edge that often proves decisive in best-of-three scenarios. While Passion UA has shown flashes of brilliance, their overall consistency falls short of FaZe's peak performance entering the Major.

The map veto heavily favors FaZe's strategic approach. Ancient stands as FaZe's fortress with a commanding 67% win rate across 18 maps, while simultaneously serving as Passion UA's Achilles heel at just 35% over 20 maps. Opponents consistently first-ban Ancient against Passion UA for good reason. This dynamic gives FaZe a guaranteed strong map selection. Even if the series reaches a decider on Dust2 where Passion UA excels at 71%, FaZe has proven capable of upsetting top-tier opponents like Vitality (3.33 odds) and The MongolZ (3.04 odds) when facing adversity.

FaZe's recent mixed results against elite competition actually demonstrate their ceiling rather than weakness. Losses to Spirit and 3DMAX came against premium opposition, while their victories over established powerhouses showcase the firepower needed to dismantle Passion UA. The Ukrainian underdogs may be riding high, but sustainable success requires more than a two-match streak. FaZe possesses the experience, map pool depth, and statistical superiority to reassert themselves here and secure the 2-0 or 2-1 victory.