Astralis showed composure and control in a key lower-bracket match at IEM Cologne 2025, defeating paiN 2–1. The Danes started the series strong, winning paiN’s pick of Nuke, dropped Ancient, but closed it out on Inferno to secure a Stage 2 spot. For Astralis, this victory was a clear signal – the team is not only regaining stability but also proving they’re ready to fight for top results.
Match storyline: three maps – three stories
Nuke (13:4 Astralis)
paiN chose Nuke hoping to break through the Danes’ defense, but Astralis immediately made it clear who controlled the server. The first half ended 9:3, and after switching sides Astralis wrapped things up quickly – 13:4. jabbi and stavn dictated the tempo and crushed any hopes paiN had on their own pick.
Ancient (13:8 paiN)
On the second map, the Brazilians finally woke up. paiN played more aggressively, with nqz and dav1deuS taking the lead in attacks. Astralis couldn’t find an answer – 13:8, and the series moved to the decisive Inferno.
Inferno (13:11 Astralis)
The deciding map delivered real drama. After an even first half (6:6), Astralis shifted gears at the right time. Key clutches from jabbi and stavn and disciplined defense sealed the map 13:11 – and the series 2:1.
Players statistics for the match
Previous meetings: déjà vu from PGL Astana
This series had extra weight since less than three months earlier Astralis had already faced paiN at PGL Astana 2025. Back then, the Danes cruised to a clean 2–0 win (13:4 on Nuke and 13:9 on Inferno). This match confirmed the trend: paiN once again couldn’t handle Astralis’s aggressive style, and even winning Ancient at IEM Cologne didn’t change the overall balance of power.
Astralis: stability and growing form
Astralis are in excellent shape – four wins in their last five matches (only one loss to FURIA). Victories over B8, BetBoom, Lynn Vision and now paiN show the team steadily reclaiming its elite status.
- Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard (56–39, 1.32 rating) was the true hero – 90.4 ADR and crucial clutches.
- Martin “stavn” Lund (55–42, 1.28 rating) was the second engine of the team, winning key duels.
- Nicolai “device” Reedtz (40–39, 1.11 rating) provided stability, with his experience guiding the team through closing rounds.
paiN: the chance was there, but they didn’t take it
The Brazilians came into the match with shaky confidence – only two wins in their last five series (BIG and Rare Atom). Losses to Liquid, 3DMAX, and Lynn Vision hurt their morale, and this match against Astralis only underscored the team’s issues.
- Lucas “nqz” Soares (52–43, 1.25 rating) was the brightest light for paiN.
- David “dav1deuS” Tapia Maldonado (49–48, 1.15 rating) added firepower but it wasn’t enough.
- João “snow” Vinicius (18–52, 0.59 rating) was the weakest link – his poor performance on Nuke severely hurt the Brazilians’ chances.
Player of the Match
Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard was the undisputed MVP, earning 80.3% of the fan vote. His 56–39 K/D, 1.32 rating and 90.4 ADR speak for themselves – he was the driving force behind Astralis’s victory.
On Nuke, jabbi repeatedly shut down paiN’s attacks and held bombsites solo; on Inferno, he won key clutches that decided pivotal rounds. His game blended aggression, discipline, and calm in critical moments. It wasn’t just about stats – jabbi became the backbone Astralis built this win around.
Community reaction
The Astralis vs paiN clash sparked a wave of reactions across chats and social media. Many praised the Danes’ dominance and individual performances, while others responded with humor and sarcasm.
- “The best guys,” one fan summed it up, praising Astralis.
- “Jabbi super” – a simple, repeated comment praising the MVP.
- “EZ4 Astralis” – the classic meme flooded the chats again after the win.
- “I started respecting jabbi a bit more,” captured the mood of many viewers.
- “snow 3-19” – biting joke about snow’s poor showing.
Fans laughed, joked, and threw memes around – but the core sentiment was clear: Astralis are back in form, and jabbi earned genuine community respect for his performance.
What’s next?
Astralis move on to Stage 2 of IEM Cologne 2025, looking like a team steadily rebuilding top-tier ambitions. paiN, on the other hand, took another bitter loss and must search for answers – both tactically and mentally.
This match underscored one thing: Astralis have found the formula against paiN, and the Brazilians will need to rethink their approach if they hope to break this pattern.
