The clash between Aurora and Spirit is set to take place on July 28, 2025, at 14:00 UTC. This matchup is part of the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025, specifically in Group B of the tournament. The battle will unfold in a best-of-3 format, promising a thrilling contest between these two formidable teams. We have analyzed the statistics and the current form of the teams to make a prediction for the match outcome. Check out the match details here.

Current form of the teams

Aurora, currently ranked 6th in the world according to the Valve Rankings, has shown a commendable form recently. Their win rate over the last month stands at an impressive 100%, and they have a single match winstreak. In their recent tournament, the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025, Aurora secured a convincing 2-0 victory against Ninjas in Pyjamas, a team ranked 23rd.

However, their performance at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 was less stellar, where they finished in the 12–14th position, earning $20,000. At the current tournament, Aurora is playing with a stand-in: xfl0ud is replacing XANTARES, which may impact team coordination and firepower. In their last five matches, Aurora has achieved two wins, notably defeating FaZe, ranked 7th, but suffered losses to MOUZ, G2, and FURIA, all of whom are top-tier teams. Aurora’s earnings over the last six months amount to $154,750, placing them 16th in the earnings ranking.

On the other hand, Spirit, ranked 3rd globally, enters this match with a formidable form. They boast a perfect win rate in the last month and are currently on a one-match winning streak. Spirit’s recent triumph came against HEROIC, ranked 12th, in the same tournament. At the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, Spirit finished in the 5-8th position, securing $45,000 in winnings.

Their recent matches include a notable victory over Natus Vincere, ranked 8th, and a loss to MOUZ. Spirit’s earnings over the last six months have been significant, totaling $530,000, which places them 4th in the earnings ranking.

Teams Map Pool

The predicted map veto scenario for this matchup suggests that Aurora will first ban Ancient, while Spirit will opt to ban Inferno. Aurora is expected to first pick Dust2, a map where they have a 64% win rate over the last six months, while Spirit’s first pick is likely to be Nuke, a map they have performed well on, with a 67% win rate. The deciding map is anticipated to be Train, where Spirit holds an 86% win rate, a significant advantage over Aurora’s 50%.

Prediction

Given the current form, historical data, and map pool analysis, Spirit is favored to win this match with a predicted scoreline of 2-1. Spirit’s superior map win rates, particularly on Dust2 and Train, combined with their recent performance and higher world ranking, suggest they have the edge over Aurora. While Aurora has demonstrated resilience and potential for an upset, Spirit’s consistency and strategic prowess are likely to secure them the victory.

Prediction: Aurora 1:2 Spirit

Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 takes place from July 26 to August 3 in Germany, featuring a prize pool of $1,250,000. You can follow the news, schedule, and results of the tournament via the link.