Southampton's Irish trio Ryan Manning, Finn Azaz and Gavin Bazunu face up Nations League winners Portugal in a decisive World Cup qualifying fixture that can shape up the Saints' season trajectory ahead.
With the October International break in, it's been some time since that humorous Hugo Ekitike moment against Southampton, but hardly anyone has forgotten it. After all, it remains ever funny to look back seeing him receive a red card for pulling a Messi-esque celebration.
But on a serious note, while Saints fans have been lucky not to face off with the GOAT himself, none can deny that Ekitike's goal had the decisiveness of the best player they ever faced, in Cristiano Ronaldo.
Well, to the Saints' comfort, their days of facing Ronaldo are over. But this doesn't excuse them from being tense as he and his Portuguese mates face off against Southampton's key trio in the upcoming World Cup qualifier.
Saints' Irish trio performance against Portugal key to their season
It's Ryan Manning, Finn Azaz, and Gavin Bazunu who will be lining up for Ireland versus the Nations League winners, Portugal. Sitting at the bottom of their group, this game is crucial for Ireland's World Cup hopes, but what makes it a must-follow for the Saints is the implications this game holds for their season ahead.
Notably, Southampton's recent disappointment against Derby didn't just result in a draw, it also came with a dent in the reduced trust in Finn Azaz. And though touted to be the missing piece to boss Still's success, Azaz needs a confident performance(breaking his goal duck) if he is to turn around his Championship season.
The same, if not worse, goes for Gavin Bazunu, who has lost his starting spot to Alex McCarthy. Well, while Bazunu boasts of a penalty save against Cristiano Ronaldo in the World Cup 2022 qualifiers, expectations would be higher for him this time than the way he conceded a late winning brace to the forward last time.
Thankfully, Ryan Manning's case would ignite much more optimism among the fans, given he's been one of the rare consistent Saints performers. But again, that asks for even more from Manning, who must continue on his impressive streak to return better for Southampton after the break.