Yaya Toure has admitted he is ‘a little bit scared’ for his former club Manchester City as they prepare to take on Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.
City were unbeaten in the group stage, winning four times and drawing twice, as they topped a pool featuring Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar Donetsk.
However, Pep Guardiola’s side were handed one of the toughest ties possible, as they were drawn against 13-time winners and current La Liga leaders Madrid, who finished second in group A behind Paris Saint-Germain.
Remarkably, Madrid have never lost a European knock-out game under Zinedine Zidane, having won the trophy three successive times during his first reign. The Frenchman returned to the Bernabeu dugout last March, and Los Blancos’ pedigree in the competition has left Toure fearful for his former side.
Speaking to Omnisport, Toure admitted: "I wanted City to get Lyon or a club like that, but Real Madrid is going to be a tough game, a very, very tough game.
"Real Madrid could knock us straight out. They could, they really could, because we expect Real Madrid to be in the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and now they face City.
"I’m a little scared to be honest. I hope Man City are going to pass Madrid but this is a big, big test, a big ask."
Madrid’s stranglehold on the competition ended last season, when they were dumped out in the last 16 by Ajax, a defeat which prompted the club to turn to Zidane once again.
The Spanish giants are back in trophy contention with Zidane at the helm, and Toure has been impressed with what he has seen.
"The last time I saw a game was when they played against Paris Saint-Germain, it was very good," Toure said.
"Even though PSG got two goals in the end, Madrid was on top of Paris Saint-Germain, and Paris Saint-Germain are a good, good side."
The first leg takes place on Wednesday 26th February, with Madrid then travelling to Manchester for the second leg on 17th March.
