Julien Laurens joined the Totally Football Show podcast and talked about Manchester City's chances of progressing past Real Madrid in one of the most exciting ties of the Champions League round of 16.

This Wednesday, Pep Guardiola faces a mammoth task of trying to topple Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu and, needless to say, it might prove a challenge too big even for him.

At least that's what ESPN's Laurens believes and has stated for the Totally Football Show podcast (25/2/2020) when talking about the upcoming clash: "I think Real Madrid will knock them out. I just think they are too solid. When they want to they will turn up and they will be so strong defensively. And I just do think that this Real Madrid team, over the two legs, would be too strong for City."

With City also being banned from Europe for the next two seasons, this makes Laurens' verdict that much more damning for Guardiola's troops. After all, if UEFA's ban stands, this would be their last hurrah in the tournament for a couple of years, having failed to get past the quarter-finals under his watch so far.

Real Madrid are by no means an easy opponent, especially with Zidane at the helm, since the Frenchman was the one who orchestrated their incredible Champions League run that saw them clinch the title in three consecutive years. Perhaps Los Blancos are not at the peak of their powers since the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 but they have a strong record in Europe under the Frenchman, having never lost a two-legged tie with him in charge.

In terms of them being solid, too, they have only conceded 17 goals this season - the lowest amount in La Liga - so Laurens' prediction does look well-founded.

Man City fans, do you think your team can power past Zidane's troops or do you agree with Laurens' verdict? Let us know in the comment section down below!