Karim Benzema has predicted an "even game" when Real Madrid take on Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Madrid welcome Premier League champions City to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday for the first leg of the mouthwatering tie.

Los Blancos won the competition three years running prior to being dumped out by Ajax at this same stage last season.

Benzema is fully aware of the size of the task awaiting Madrid this time around, telling UEFA's official website: "What I can say about City is that they're a good team with a very good coach.

"They're a team that play with the ball, who aren't scared to make lots and lots of passes. It's going to be an even game.

"[The Champions League] represents a lots of things - there's something different [about it], the emotions are not the same.

"That comes automatically in fact. It's not that you don't give as much in other competitions, but in the Champions League, I don't know... there's something about it."

Madrid head into the game on the back of a shock 1-0 loss to Levante at the weekend, which allowed Barcelona to open up a two-point lead at the La Liga summit.