Team Vitality continue their winning streak, claiming their seventh consecutive victory — this time over Astralis in the Group A upper bracket quarter-final of IEM Cologne 2025. But despite the clean 2-0 scoreline, the match was far from an easy stroll for the French-European squad. Astralis put up fierce resistance on both maps, fought until the very last round, and forced Vitality to switch into full focus to close out the series.
Match flow: Vitality were stronger, but Astralis bit back
Nuke (13:11 for Vitality)
Astralis picked their trusted Nuke, counting on a tactical edge — and for a while, it worked. The Danes started the match aggressively, kept the score close in the first half (4:8), and even pulled ahead for a few rounds after the side switch. But then Vitality kicked into overdrive — mezii won a crucial clutch, ZywOo shut down two A-site pushes, and the map ended 13:11.
Overpass (13:8 for Vitality)
A similar scenario unfolded on Overpass. Vitality took the opening nine rounds (9:3), but Astralis refused to roll over. Device and jabbi dragged their team back into contention, cutting the deficit and even threatening a comeback. But the key rounds went Vitality’s way once again, allowing them to calmly close the map 13:8 and the series 2:0.
Player stats
Past meetings: déjà vu from BLAST Lisbon
This rivalry has history. Back in March, at BLAST Open Lisbon 2025, Vitality also swept Astralis 2:0 (13:6 on Dust2 and 13:4 on Inferno), leaving the Danes with little chance. This time Astralis looked much sharper — they grabbed 19 rounds across two maps and pushed Vitality harder, but the story still ended in another win for the French side.
Vitality: 7 wins in a row and unshakable discipline
Vitality are in pristine form right now — seven straight victories and commanding results against elite opponents (NAVI, Virtus.pro, MOUZ).
- William “mezii” Merriman (37–31, 1.23 rating) — the steadiest performer of the night, saving Vitality from eco-round disasters multiple times.
- Shahar “flameZ” Shushan (30–31, 1.17 rating) added pace to the attacks and played with fearless aggression.
- Robin “ropz” Kool (33–28, 1.12 rating) locked down crucial angles on Overpass.
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (31–31, 1.07 rating) didn’t dominate statistically but made pivotal trades and created space for his teammates.
Vitality proved that even when the opposition fights tooth and nail, they can remain cold-blooded and finish the job.
Astralis: a worthy fight that deserves respect
Yes, Astralis lost to Vitality again, but this was a completely different story compared to Lisbon. The Danes looked far more organized, battled for every round, and pushed their opponents to their limits.
- Nicolai “device” Reedtz (40–29, 1.36 rating) — the heart and soul of Astralis. He shut down pushes on Nuke, took opening duels, and looked like the device of old.
- Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard (34–32, 1.09 rating) backed device up, winning critical trades.
- stavn and HooXi, though inconsistent, had key supportive moments that kept Astralis in the game.
Astralis showed they can still compete with Vitality. The 0–2 scoreline might look harsh, but behind it was a battle worth praising.
Player of the Match
Nicolai “device” Reedtz was the standout star even in defeat. His 40–29 K/D, 1.36 rating, and 94.8 ADR highlight how much he influenced the game from start to finish.
On Nuke, device seized the initiative, winning opening duels and clutching in the toughest moments to keep Astralis alive. His precision and map awareness forced Vitality to respect him in every round.
On Overpass, he remained the focal point — trading, landing key picks, and holding critical positions to slow Vitality’s attacks. This was device in the style of his golden years — cool-headed, sharp, and impactful, a player who, even in defeat, reminded everyone why he’s still the face of Astralis and a legend of the game.
What’s next?
Vitality move on to the upper bracket semi-finals of IEM Cologne 2025 and look every bit the favorite to lift the trophy.
Astralis drop to the lower bracket, but this match showed they are far from broken — they’re ready to fight and can challenge anyone.
Though the series ended 2–0, this was a match about character. Vitality proved they can win under pressure, and Astralis proved they can fight to the very end, even against one of the strongest teams in the world.
