In this way, the qualifying situation of Europa League Group G has become very clear.

Southampton has won all four games and has 12 points, ranking first in the group, while Atletico Madrid has won three of four games and has 9 points, ranking second in the group. The remaining Lille and Lech Poznan are just supporting roles.

Southampton has already secured the top two spots in the group. Whether they can secure the first spot depends on whether they can beat Atletico Madrid again in the last round of the group stage. If they fail, as long as they draw, Southampton can secure the first place in the group and qualify.

On November 8, the Championship match day, Southampton faced Swindon City at home.

Coach Adkins kept half of the main players on the bench and gave Gu Ran a rest.

In the end, Southampton beat Swindon City with a score of 1:0.

At the post-match press conference, Coach Adkins was happier than if he had won 10:0.

On November 19th, the Championship match day, Southampton challenged Bristol City away.

In the first half, Coach Adkins placed Gu Ran on the bench to watch the game.

It was thought that Southampton would win easily, but shortly after the start of the first half, Mikel was sent off with a red card. Southampton played 10 against 11. By the end of the first half, Southampton had already been scored 3 goals by Bristol City.

So, at the beginning of the second half, Coach Adkins released his ultimate weapon - Gu Ran.

As soon as Gu Ran came on the field, Southampton seemed like a different team. Mane and Sturridge were fully activated. In the 73rd minute of the second half, Southampton equalized the score.

Then, in the 79th and 85th minutes, Gu Ran scored a penalty and a shot, and with an away score of 3:5, he came back from 3-0 to defeat Bristol City.

On November 23, the Championship League match day, Southampton played away against their arch-rivals Portsmouth.

In this game, Adkins sent out all the main players. After all, the victory against Portsmouth can even exceed the joy brought by any victory in any game.

As soon as the game started, Southampton launched an all-out attack without hesitation.

Portsmouth naturally refused to show weakness at their home ground and directly attacked Southampton.

Both sides gave up on defense and just fought.

The players on both sides were extremely aggressive on the field, with big moves and yellow cards flying everywhere.

If Mikel had not been sent off with a red card in the previous game and suspended for this game, he would definitely have received another yellow card.

In the 10th minute of the first half, a Portsmouth player's eyebrow bone was broken by Gu Ran and he had to leave the field for treatment.

Taking advantage of the fact that Portsmouth was short of players, Southampton passed the ball to Gu Ran through Henderson. Gu Ran attracted the firepower and then passed the ball to Chamberlain. Chamberlain accelerated and dribbled the ball to the bottom. Salah ran to the empty space to receive the ball, then turned around to protect the ball and pushed the ball to Gu Ran who was quickly inserted. Gu Ran then made a long shot from outside the penalty area with a single touch, changing the score to Portsmouth 0:1 Southampton.

The coordination between the midfield and frontcourt is quite beautiful.

Southampton's main players have also been getting better and better at working together through many high-intensity matches.

In the 15th minute, Portsmouth's striker broke into the penalty area, but the ball was intercepted by Rudiger. Southampton immediately launched a counterattack. Unfortunately, Chamberlain failed to break through in this link and made a mistake when dribbling past the opponent.

In the 27th minute, Gu Ran was tackled to the ground when he dribbled the ball to the front of Portsmouth's penalty area. The referee showed a yellow card to the Portsmouth defender and awarded Southampton a free kick.

Then, in the 30th minute, Salah successfully intercepted the ball near the midfield, Gu Ran immediately came in to receive the ball, and then passed it back to Salah who was running into the empty area. After getting the ball, Salah took a few steps forward into the penalty area without anyone blocking him, then made a slight adjustment and shot directly into the goal.

The score was changed to Portsmouth 0:3 Southampton.

The Southampton fans at the scene were all shouting double digits excitedly. They wanted to see double digits slaughter their deadly enemies.

In the 35th minute, Southampton's Van Dijk successfully intercepted Portsmouth's winger and immediately passed the ball to Gu Ran. Gu Ran dribbled the ball all the way, using his body to overpower Portsmouth's four midfielders and defenders. Then, when approaching the penalty area, he saw an open space and passed the ball directly to Lallana who was out of position. Lallana was naturally unceremonious and scored in one go.

The score was changed to Portsmouth 0:4 Southampton.

In the 41st minute, Southampton won a corner kick after a series of attacks.

Gu Ran took the corner kick and directly made a crescent-shaped scimitar ball from a very long distance, which made the Portsmouth goalkeeper a stick.

The score was immediately changed to Portsmouth 0:5 Southampton.

Only then did Portsmouth realize the seriousness of the situation and realize that the Southampton team they were facing now was no longer the English League One Southampton team they met in the League Cup that year.

Portsmouth quickly adjusted their tactics and started defending.

But it was too late. The players on the Portsmouth field were almost mentally broken.

After finally reaching the end of the first half, the score had become 0:6, and Southampton was only 4 goals away from achieving a double-digit victory over their arch-rival Portsmouth.

After the start of the second half, Coach Adkins did not intend to adjust the tactics or replace the main players, but just wanted to attack Portsmouth, their arch-rival, hard.

Southampton players also surrounded Gu Ran as the core and attacked frantically.

In the end, when the game ended, Southampton swept their arch-rivals Portsmouth with 12 goals.

Portsmouth fans were all in tears and in great pain.

Southampton fans celebrated and mocked wildly.

Fans of both teams fought outside the stadium.

After the game, Southampton's bus could barely get out of Portsmouth's football stadium.

It was not until law enforcement officers intervened, arrested some of the troublemaking football hooligans and dispersed most of the fans that the Southampton bus finally left Portsmouth safely.

In Southampton, Saints fans welcomed the return of the Southampton players as if they were heroes.

On November 28, the League Cup quarter-finals began, with Southampton away challenging the Premier League team Wigan Athletic.

In this era, Wigan Athletic's strength was at the bottom of the Premier League, and there were no big-name players in the team. Naturally, Southampton was not too polite. With all the main players on the field, they finally defeated Wigan Athletic 5:1 and advanced to the semi-finals of the League Cup.

...(End of this chapter)