The history of the match between Southampton and Manchester City goes back to the late 1960s, when the two teams first faced each other in a competitive match. Since then, the teams have met each other over 70 times in various competitions.
In the early years of the rivalry, Southampton and Manchester City were both relatively lower-ranked teams in the English football league system. However, by the late 1970s and early 1980s, Southampton had established itself as a top-flight team, finishing in the top half of the table in several seasons. Manchester City, on the other hand, struggled and were relegated to the second tier for several seasons.

The two teams faced each other infrequently during this period, but when they did meet, it was often an exciting and closely contested match. The matches were often filled with many goals.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Manchester City’s fortunes improved and they were eventually acquired by a billionaire owner, which allowed the team to significantly strengthened their squad, eventually becoming a Premier League powerhouse and one of the most successful team of the league. Meanwhile, Southampton has also remained competitive, but they have not reached the same level of success as Manchester City.
The most recent matches between the two teams have been filled with action and drama, with the quality of play being very high. Manchester City has generally been the stronger team in recent years, but Southampton has proven to be a tough opponent, with many matches ending in close scorelines. Despite the disparity in success, the match between Southampton and Manchester City is always a tough one for both sides and is one of the most exciting fixtures of the Premier League.