Falcons and PARIVISION headline PGL Cluj-Napoca quarter-finals

PGL Cluj-Napoca is heating up this weekend with a stacked playoffs - and we have to say, how nice is it to have eight team playoffs again?

No shade, it's just... it just feels right.

We've got four banging quarter-finals all in one day before we get down to the nitty gritty. First up is an absolute barnstormer.

Falcons have been on fire this event, which, though we're supposed to be neutrals, is just quite nice to see. CS is more fun when Falcons are flying because they just have wonderful players to watch; none more so than kyousuke, who is in extraordinary nick.

While he's technically behind ZywOo and his teammate m0NESY in the ratings, he was supernatural in the final two maps against FURIA to get them the coveted 3-0, and is doing so as quite often the tip of the spear. While that's considered a fantastic role right now, it's also one that tends to be harder against top teams, especially ones with an AWPer like, say molodoy.

In the other corner is PARIVISION, who are one of the hardest teams in the world to read and actually make for an interesting challenge for Falcons. Falcons are a team with insane firepower but at times struggle with discipline, while PARIVISION are a team who will punish mistakes extremely hard, but can be overwhelmed by sheer quality. If styles make fights, this will be a fight to the death.

Next to the floor is MOUZ and NAVI, which is probably more of a MOUZ-favoured game than one might first imagine.

NAVI have made zero changes since the makazze addition, and you can sort of tell. They seem a little stale, and are not as dangerous as they once were and seem eminently beatable by the the top tier teams. And yet, they're still really, really solid. They're clearly a top 10 team in the world despite everything, you just never back them against a big team.

And MOUZ are a big team, even if they're a bit dodgy on stage. MOUZ are so reliable against teams weaker than them, and NAVI don't reliably play up.

That said... they have proven enough times that they can play, and sometimes you only have to show up to beat MOUZ on stage. Aleksib can definitely outcall Brollan, and NAVI are clever enough to abuse that.

Who knows what will happen on the day, but MOUZ should win. It's just that that doesn't always matter.

This one will always probably be quite simple; Vitality are the best team in the world, and though Aurora have been much improved they never win on stage and they're probably not going to start with this.

You don't make a perfect medium-rare filet mignon after overcooking a rump four times.

ZywOo is the best player in the world right now and we'd be amazed if anyone can stop him running amok, never mind Aurora. XANTARES and woxic have been excellent - especially woxic against Astralis, who won the game almost on his own - but who are we kidding here.

This will be a 2-0, and we won't allow any opinions to the contrary.

Last game of the day will be FURIA vs The MongolZ, and we're not sure on this one.

FURIA should absolutely win, but we're much more bullish on The MongolZ than we expected to be, and they did burst onto the scene years ago as notorious Brazil-slayers. cobrazera has been a revelation in Senzu's stead, and they've barely missed a beat since losing their best player (?).

We're really trying to hype this up, but FURIA are overwhelming favourites for a reason. molodoy is in sparkling form and is an absolute joy to watch, and KSCERATO is about as good as a back-up to a star as you can get.

FURIA might have lost to Falcons, but MongolZ don't have kyousuke. It's an uphill battle.