Movistar Riders through to LANXESS Arena after besting Vitality

The Spaniards came out on top of a three-map series to guarantee themselves a playoff berth in Cologne.

Movistar Riders are through to the playoffs of IEM Cologne after coming out on top of an upper bracket match against Vitality, the teams trading each other's map picks in dominant fashion before Alejandro "⁠alex⁠" Masanet's side proved to be the better team on the Nuke decider.

The victory adds to a hot streak of results for the Riders, who came into Cologne after lifting the trophy on home soil in Valencia over MIBR, Sprout, and Outsiders. Despite having momentum from that victory on their side, it was thought that the Spaniards would struggle more against some of the top tier opposition in Germany, but they looked just as comfortable when play got underway in Cologne as they cast G2 down to the lower bracket in their opening match, and now beat Vitality to advance to the playoffs.

To make things even better, Movistar Riders now have the chance to book a spot directly in the semi-finals, but easily their hardest opponent stands between them and that goal. A NAVI that looks to be in almost unbeatable form — one that has "the certainty that [they] can fuck" — are standing on that line, with the victor of that match to be determined on Sunday at 16:00 . Vitality, meanwhile, still have the chance to make the playoffs, but face a much more difficult road now as they need to first beat MOUZ, and then the winner of the other lower bracket match between Ninjas in Pyjamas and G2 in order to advance.

The Spaniards make the playoffs in back-to-back events

As far as the actual match between Movistar Riders and Vitality was concerned, the first two maps offered little in the way of thrilling Counter-Strike as they each ended in blowout fashion, each seeing the CT side dominate.

Vitality's pick of Mirage looked everything other than that, a 3-0 start for the French Danish combine quickly giving way as Álvaro "⁠SunPayus⁠" García and Alejandro "⁠mopoz⁠" Fernández-Quejo Cano helped their side assert supreme authority on the proceedings as they won 16 of the next 17 rounds en route to closing out the map 16-4. The Spaniards were equally dismal on their own map pick, Vertigo, with Vitality's stalwart defense leading to a 12-3 scoreline at halftime before they closed things out with four in a row following the side swap.

Nuke was a closer affair with a few more highlight moments, the teams trading blows for much of the first half. It was the Riders who only just came out ahead by the break, edging out an 8-7 lead, and they extended that slightly following the side swap with a pistol round win and subsequent conversion. It seemed like Vitality would steal away that momentum as they began to find footing on the CT side, pulling ahead by one round, but back to back double kill rounds from mopoz put a halt to Vitality's comeback effort and helped Movistar Riders seize control as they closed out the map, 16-12.

Matchpage
2
1
8th July 2022
16
Mirage
4
3
Vertigo
16
16
Nuke
12
 Movistar Riders K - D +/- ADR KAST Rating2.0
49 - 44 +5 80.2 70.1% 1.19
47 - 34 +13 74.0 74.6% 1.17
43 - 47 -4 70.9 73.1% 0.97
36 - 41 -5 61.2 70.1% 0.94
31 - 47 -16 56.2 68.7% 0.77
 Vitality K - D +/- ADR KAST Rating2.0
54 - 39 +15 83.0 80.6% 1.31
47 - 45 +2 75.7 76.1% 1.13
45 - 41 +4 79.4 70.1% 1.08
36 - 36 0 58.3 82.1% 1.03
31 - 45 -14 60.1 59.7% 0.78
Spain Alejandro 'alex' Masanet
Alejandro 'alex' Masanet
Age:
26
Rating 1.0:
1.03
Maps played:
1305
KPR:
0.70
DPR:
0.65
Spain Alejandro 'mopoz' Fernández-Quejo Cano
Alejandro 'mopoz' Fernández-Quejo Cano
Age:
25
Rating 1.0:
1.00
Maps played:
1148
KPR:
0.68
DPR:
0.68
Spain Álvaro 'SunPayus' García
Álvaro 'SunPayus' García
Age:
23
Rating 1.0:
1.13
Maps played:
321
KPR:
0.73
DPR:
0.59
Time is adjusted to your selected timezone
Sunpayus monster perfomance and mopoz too, making history going to Lanxess arena as the first spanish team to do it
2022-07-08 22:55
0
7 replies
vamos
2022-07-08 23:10
0
first spanish team to beat vita and g2 also yea?
2022-07-09 01:16
0
4 replies
Movistar beated G2 at IEM Fall 2021 so that's not that great of an achievement, Vitality is not on a good form rn
2022-07-09 01:40
0
3 replies
Movistar did already beat vitality aswell, when Alex was still in the french side igling
2022-07-09 05:52
0
damn Carols must be proud g2 lost to this not even mad
2022-07-09 10:36
0
1 reply
#102
 | 
Spain sary44
carols xd
2022-07-09 11:00
0
#78
 | 
Denmark baitpolice
ez 4 goat sunpayas
2022-07-09 01:36
0
#2
 | 
Finland Cucumber))
SO EASY FOR MOVISTAR
2022-07-08 22:54
0
2 replies
2-1 win is nit easy...
2022-07-09 10:20
0
1 reply
okay but easy!
2022-07-09 13:09
0
So hyped
2022-07-08 22:54
0
So so so ez 4 spain, try better next time. s1mple, s1mpayus is coming for you.
2022-07-08 22:54
0
#8
 | 
Sweden Cveta
VAMOOOOOOSSSSS
2022-07-08 22:55
0
#9
 | 
Comoros Kollaps
LUTALITY 👌​😹​
2022-07-08 22:55
0
Vamos
2022-07-08 22:55
0
gg
2022-07-08 22:55
0
#12
 | 
Poland l1m4k
LULtality
2022-07-08 22:55
0
VAMOS JODER
2022-07-08 22:55
0
#14
 | 
Asia xskarskie
heroic ence vitality fighting for window seat on the airport
2022-07-08 22:55
0
#16
 | 
Spain PraKaN1
VAMOS
2022-07-08 22:55
0
#17
Faceit level 3  | 
Italy Pipa27
I really had flashbacks with that vertigo lost with the ence EPL series
2022-07-08 22:55
0
1 reply
yeah i was thinking the same while watching it
2022-07-08 23:04
0
#19
 | 
Ukraine d3adLY
AHAHhahah, omg, how apex is still at tier1 lvl???
2022-07-08 22:56
0
VAMOSSSS
2022-07-08 22:56
0
LETS GOOOO
2022-07-08 22:56
0
#23
 | 
Italy senseyy8
VAMOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
2022-07-08 22:56
0
botality disband when? #freezywoo
2022-07-08 22:56
0
4 replies
just retire apex, not even trying to be disrespectful to the guy, get a new igl or new player and let magisk become igl.
2022-07-08 23:02
0
I honestly think Zywoo isnt much better, the only one I see having a pretty decent impact is dupreeh as he is performing as when he has on peak Astralis
2022-07-09 00:03
0
2 replies
dupreeh is dogshit like two thirds of the time. barely positive rating this year. he was a top 10 player during peak astralis, he won't crack top 30 this year
2022-07-09 01:56
0
+1 he and Magisk deliver those crucial multikills on CT when ankering bombsites thats what stats won't tell you but watching the games eventually will open your eyes :)
2022-07-09 09:10
0
vamos
2022-07-08 22:56
0
#26
 | 
Europe Eknex
dav1g <33333333333333333333333333333333333333
2022-07-08 22:56
0
1 reply
+1
2022-07-08 22:59
0
#27
 | 
Spain BlaNcoW
DRAGONITES IN THE LANXESS ARENA VAMOOOOOOOSSSSS
2022-07-08 22:56
0
What a crazy run from riders holy shit
2022-07-08 22:57
0
#30
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Denmark OPINIONATOR
Save zywoo
2022-07-08 22:57
0
#SomosMovistarRiders
2022-07-08 22:57
0
#32
 | 
Brazil Vicmar
Expected
2022-07-08 22:58
0
apex more washed than shoxieJESUS
2022-07-08 22:58
0
now i dont feel this bad that Outsiders lost to these guys. Well played Spain, good luck in play-offs
2022-07-08 22:59
0
1 reply
thanks for recognizing that the raiders deserve it for how they are playing, more people like you
2022-07-09 13:01
0
#37
 | 
Mexico Osw_
B OMEGALUL T A L I T Y
2022-07-08 23:01
0
Are these spanish dudes on flaka? Been owning since their new lineup sheeet
2022-07-08 23:01
0
ESPAÑA IS THE BEST
2022-07-08 23:01
0
#42
Faceit plus user Faceit level 8  | 
Xyp9x | 
Romania Prevail_RO
tf did apex call in round 27 nuke?
2022-07-08 23:03
0
1 reply
I doubt even himself know most of the time what he is calling lol. joking, no disrespect, time to retire and let someone else take over.
2022-07-08 23:12
0
So happy to see another Spanish-speaking team succeed
2022-07-08 23:03
0
2 replies
#93
 | 
Spain Otanno
Wich is the other one?
2022-07-09 05:31
0
1 reply
He obv means 9z, maybe they arent as high as Movistar in terms of archivements but they are in a great shape aswell
2022-07-09 05:56
0
#45
 | 
World BadToWorse
Vamos riders!
2022-07-08 23:04
0
#46
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
World Kobs
Nice throw by apex , the round he give himself for free in stairs cost them the game
2022-07-08 23:07
0
AMAZING LETS GO MOVISTAR
2022-07-08 23:05
0
VAMOOOOOS!! It's been a though road but they finally made it 🤩 And now we are here to stay after all this years, keep going Riders <3
2022-07-08 23:05
0
lets go mobistar!
2022-07-08 23:10
0
#50
 | 
Spain paulinh0
I'm almost crying, this Riders story is so fuckn beautiful
2022-07-08 23:10
0
#52
 | 
Netherlands xrnavkha
Choketality
2022-07-08 23:11
0
Vitality missed a big chance to make the Playoffs. losing in nuke being in CT to close the map is unavoidable, they had a big advantage and threw it away
2022-07-08 23:13
0
Huh, still want Navi to win, sorry :( Pero igualmente VAMOS RIDERS A LA FINAL!
2022-07-08 23:14
0
I want to take a photo at lanxess with this legendary team
2022-07-08 23:15
0
LETS GOOO
2022-07-08 23:26
0
#58
Faceit level 9  | 
deko | 
Andorra CapDeSuro01
Siiiii let's go!!
2022-07-08 23:31
0
#59
 | 
Germany HSV_isses
Take notes Big, this should have been your run... nevertheless congrats to MRS, deserved!
2022-07-08 23:36
0
#60
 | 
Georgia Megobari
Gratz, Spain, very imporant win. The best result of Spanish players ever on LAN?
2022-07-08 23:38
0
1 reply
IEM Fall Quarters, Pro League Quarters, but this tournament it's probably the most prestigious besides majors so yeah probably
2022-07-09 00:47
0
VAMOOOOOOOOOOOS
2022-07-08 23:44
0
globalists swear the improvement is coming!
2022-07-08 23:48
0
VAMOOOOOOOOOOS!!!
2022-07-08 23:59
0
alexitownz master-mind
2022-07-09 00:01
0
Its looks like it's beginning to rain
2022-07-09 00:19
0
Even though navi can certainly fuck, I'm going for movi
2022-07-09 00:23
0
#70
 | 
Romania Andreyl33t
Lmao vitaly the most dumbest roester change in the history, hate to hate but everyone must admit it
2022-07-09 00:46
0
3 replies
It’s true. The finishing full French squad was WAY beyond their current roster, nobody can deny that.
2022-07-09 00:59
0
no it's not ENCE -aleksib +firepower
2022-07-09 03:35
0
1 reply
But that was cause Allu wanted his friend in the team, his ex-team mates said thar was only Allu who aproved the replacement of AleksiB.
2022-07-09 06:01
0
#73
Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
France Sinj_Gracieux
Poor zywoo
2022-07-09 00:53
0
VAMOS RIDERS LETS FCKIN DO IT
2022-07-09 00:58
0
#76
 | 
Poland IDIEYOUNG
i wanna see tense1983 in Lanxes Arena.
2022-07-09 01:07
0
lfg papayus
2022-07-09 01:44
0
#81
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Bulgaria AboveYall
This MR roster rly reminds me of old AGO, no "stars" but incredibly well communicated and reading the game team with stable players u can rely on. VAMOS
2022-07-09 01:52
0
#83
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
B1ad3 | 
United Kingdom Umeroff
Great performance! Hope this team sticks together and accomplishes great things! They have made their country proud!
2022-07-09 02:06
0
#84
Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
Lithuania Jaguaras
Vamos
2022-07-09 02:17
0
#85
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
REAL | 
Spain deBurrows
This is amazing so far. Hope they can keep the momentum and learn as much as possible to be able to compete at this same level in the future.
2022-07-09 02:37
0
VAMOOSSSS
2022-07-09 02:39
0
#87
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
LeX | 
Russia *Tpo-_-JI.b*
wow those movieriders are a real deal or wut, thats way too many matches they won vs good teams
2022-07-09 02:56
0
Movistar Riders will win Cologne
2022-07-09 03:16
0
SPAIN OWNS FRANCE SO HARD
2022-07-09 03:18
0
Botality
2022-07-09 03:36
0
#92
 | 
Vietnam Troislon
Great effort by the boys in blue
2022-07-09 04:34
0
mopoz is honestly amazing lol he'd just all of a sudden come in front of you and boom. watching it was frustrating when mopoz just catches someone in the middle of nowhere the players would have been ultra frustrated
2022-07-09 06:31
0
1 reply
#104
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Spain Sakataka
When he is confident he is an absolute beast
2022-07-09 11:10
0
Ez for Movistar Riders :)
2022-07-09 09:05
0
#103
 | 
Czech Republic PaYaB
vamos
2022-07-09 11:03
0
I'm so happy for them! Good luck in next games Spaniards!
2022-07-09 11:24
0
vamos
2022-07-09 11:51
0
#109
 | 
India c0sm1z
A NAVI that looks to be in almost unbeatable form — one that has "the certainty that [they] can fuck" — are standing on that line... Even HLTV love this statement of electronic
2022-07-09 13:11
0
Zywoo wasting his prime in t3 team.
2022-07-09 13:27
0
GOATED
2022-07-09 15:04
0
botality, botwoo but honestly, happy for spaniards!
2022-07-09 15:42
0
I hope they can keep their good run. They are playing really good but Navi is too much Navi. Best of luck 🤟🏽
2022-07-09 15:57
0
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