Cristiano Ronaldo says Manchester City will be 'scared' of Real Madrid, having made a bold Champions League prediction.
The Champions League play-off draw took place on Friday following the conclusion of the league phase on Wednesday.
The likes of Man City and Real reached the play-offs after missing out on automatic qualification.
And they were paired against each other in the standout fixture of the play-off round.
Advert
Speaking at last month's Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo was asked about Man City's form in the Champions League as well as Real's chances of raising more European silverware.
He backed Pep Guardiola's side to overcome their slump and tipped his old side to win this season's Champions League.
The 39-year-old also claimed that 'all' teams are 'scared' of facing Real at the Bernabeu.
"Well, in football you never know what’s going to happen," he explained.
Advert
"The teams have moments, difficult times, good times and what, for example, City pass through this moment is a difficult time but I’m sure, 100 per cent that they will be back.
"It’s like Madrid, people don’t expect that they’ve bene so brilliant in the beginning but they are not too bad, they are there, two points in front of Barcelona and they say it’s a bad season, I don’t understand why they say these kind of things.
"Every player, every team they have a rash moment but they will come back all the time. And Madrid, if you have to bet to win the Champions League again I would bet Real Madrid because you never know what’s going to happen.
"At the Bernabeu it’s different, all the teams are scared when they play there, this is a fact, history says that, and never consider Madrid dead because they always come back, City as well."
Advert
Man City and Real both lost three games in the league phase of the competition.
The Premier League club recorded 11 points from their eight games while the Spanish giants registered 15 points.
They'll meet next month over two legs to determine who earns a spot in the last-16.
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Champions League, Football
Nasir Jabbar