The safest bets at CS2 IEM Cologne 2025: Groups and Playoffs

The Counter-Strike tournament in Cologne is always epic, and this year is no exception. Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 (IEM Cologne 2025) features matches of the best Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) teams in the world. The Group Stage is from July 26 to July 29: only 6 out of 16 participants advance further. The playoffs are from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3, and only one team can lift the trophy in front of a big crowd.

Sure, there is no such thing as 100% safe bets. Esports is always unpredictable! We can highlight the favorites and bring reasons why these teams should qualify for the final brackets and succeed in the playoffs. However, only the matches can show the true outcome — mind this fact about CS2 betting!

During this tournament stage, we can witness matches in two groups. Teams with higher VRS standing start IEM Cologne 2025 here: they are seeded in eight different brackets. Their opponents come from the Play-In Stage.

It is somewhat easier to analyze the performance of the Play-In teams, as we could see their current state in a few recent matches. The Group Stage teams have not performed at this CS2 esports event yet, so the talks about betting are based on their previous tournament results.

In a way, it’s a death group, as we have some of the tournament favorites seeded here. Let’s take a look at them.

Team Vitality face Astralis in the first match of Group A — and they should win it. Astralis has had ups and downs, as they lost to FURIA in the Play-In Stage, where they were behind in both games, and couldn’t complete their comeback attempts. Even the match against paiN, which Astralis won, was too close for comfort.

The second, advancement match is potentially Vitality versus FURIA / G2 winners. While FURIA had great matches in the Play-In, specifically versus Astralis, their current state doesn’t look like enough for beating Vitality. G2 can’t properly recover from losing NiKo and m0NESY. The organization signed two new players, and they should prove themselves: SunPayus and HeavyGod.

We still should remember that win streaks eventually come to an end. That happened to the legendary Astralis roster and to other Counter-Strike gods. Vitality has made one misstep at the Austin Major, where they lost their opening match. They are not unbeatable!

FalleN brought his Counter-Strike experience to this team, which is a great power. The most recent sign is the young player molodoy — and he’s been showing amazing skills with his AWP, especially during the advancement match versus Astralis. In the opening match against FlyQuest, FURIA proved they can go through tough overtimes as well.

It should be difficult for G2 to defeat this version of FURIA. However, Vitality are the next opponents, and that is a different CS2 betting story. Advancing to the Playoff Stage is still pretty real for FURIA.

In general, Team Falcons is a bunch of Counter-Strike celebrities. The legendary coach zonic is attempting to recreate his success with Astralis. They benched Magisk and signed kyousuke to strengthen the roster. It’s interesting to witness if money really can buy it.

The opening match versus GamerLegion feels like a passable one for Falcons. The semifinal should be tougher, but this team is among the safest bets to advance to the IEM Cologne 2025 Playoffs.

This team sure is the favorite to face Vitality in the Groups upper final. And we can expect even more from The MongolZ!

This group at CS2 IEM Cologne 2025 promises closer matches with more uncertain results.

Team Liquid should not be a big problem for MOUZ. The next potential opponents, NAVI and FaZe, will have big troubles against MOUZ in their current state.

The team has difficult opponents in the first match of Group B. Even in their underperforming state, NAVI are a threat. However, going to the playoffs seems to be real for FaZe, even if through the lower brackets.

We can expect big things from this legendary team, but NAVI should yet prove themselves as a truly safe bet at IEM Cologne 2025. The match versus FaZe is a key challenge for them!

It is pretty clear that Team Spirit got a rather simple branch of the brackets. With the usual level of performance, they should reach the Playoff Stage with no big problems.

You can check out the ever-changing odds on CS2 betting platforms.

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