Team Liquid vs PSG.LGD Prediction: xiao8 team to keep the result at 100%

One of the most important international Dota 2 tournaments, the PGL Arlington Major 2022, will continue in the United States on Saturday, August 6. Team Liquid and PSG.LGD will play in the third round of group stage games on the third day.

PGL Arlington Major 2022 is a major international cyber-sports tournament in Dota 2. The tournament in the U.S. will be the second and final major event of the 2021/22 DPC season. Top 17 teams from around the world will compete for the prize pool of $500,000 and 4,570 DPC points from August 4th till August 14th.

Team Liquid: Europeans eager to win

The European team is still undefeated in this major, but they have only one victory so far, which does not allow them to be confident even in passing to the next stage. Team Liquid players have only beaten their opponents from Soniqs (2-0), which doesn't show the true strength of this team yet. Plus Liquid have two draws with the Outsiders and OG, and these opponents are direct competitors for the top playoff spot. 

Team Liquid has been doing well throughout the 2021/22 DPC cycle in Europe. As part of the winter tourney, the team achieved a champion's title, finishing second still in the regional winter finals, where extra DPC points were drawn instead of the first canceled major. In the spring, the Liquids finished third in the regional league and went to the major, where they performed mediocrely, placing 9-12. Due to their failure in the major, the European team had to try their best in the Regional League Summer Tour, and did they do this, taking second place and a ticket to the August Major in the U.S.

The European team played with a substitute at the Riyadh Masters 2022 at the end of July. The mighty Ana replaced MATUMBAMAN. Why the Finn didn't go to the UAE with the team is unknown, but it was much more important for Team Liquid to get their leading player to the USA.

PSG.LGD: Chinese are unstoppable

PSG.LGD is the only team that has yet to lose a map in this major. The Chinese have defeated three opponents: Talon Esports, OG, and Fnatic. The game of the world leader so far is amazing and the battle with Team Liquid is the first serious test for xiao8 team. The match with OG is not exactly indicative, because the Swedish major champions play again with the substitutes, but the leader of the European team is in full readiness. 

We do not have to tell much how strong PSG.LSD is. The Chinese team will be the odds-on favorite in all tournaments they attend. Since TI10 we haven't seen Chinese teams on the international arena. The whole region missed the first major in Sweden due to covid restrictions, but in July, the formidable Chinese got out and took part in the tournament in the UAE, Riyadh Masters 2022. The Arabian tournament was not so easy to play, because all the top players except Asians had gathered there and raffled off 4 000 000 dollars in prize money. PSG.LGD players triumphed, destroying Team Spirit (2-0) in the final.

This Arabian tournament can be considered a preparatory one. First of all, this was the first time since TI10 that Chinese teams participated in an international match. Second, the PSG.LGD players had to be in top form before the main event; they had played the Summer Regional with their hands down, even refusing to play one of the re-match matches. Why, they can afford it, they're in the major, and most importantly, they got a ticket to TI11 a long time ago.

In my opinion, PSG.LGD now can be called the most stable team in the world if they are motivated enough. It is worth realizing that xiao8 team won the first and second DPC league in China and both regional finals that Valve organized for the Chinese region instead of the majors. In the summer tour, the team finally relaxed because the main task was accomplished ahead of schedule. Even without going to the last match of the replay, xiao8 team explained that they want to focus on preparing for international starts, and here is one of them. 

The squad of this team has been unchanged for many years and the main intrigue in the upcoming summer international tournaments is how many times PSG.LGD will allow someone to beat them if anyone is capable of it at all now.

Head-to-head encounters

We don't take the 2019 and earlier games into account, but in 2021 these opponents have played in every major. In the past four games last year, Team Liquid won only one map, and this year the teams crossed paths at the Riyadh Masters 2022 a couple of weeks ago and then PSG.LGD easily defeated the Europeans 2-0. Still, it is worth remembering that Liquid played with the substitution carry.

Expert Betting Tips

PSG.LGD will win the match with odds of 1.72 at Bet365. 

The teams will combine for Total Over (94.5) frags in two maps, and you can bet on it for 1.77 at 22bet. 

PSG.LGD alone will make Total Over (54.5) Frags. You can bet on this option for 1.53 at 1xbet.