City host the second-leg of the round of 16 tie needing to overcome a 3-0 aggregate deficit.
Silva told Marca: "It's true that nobody expected it, but Real Madrid always transforms in the Champions League. There's still the second leg, and let's hope Man. City get back into the tie in the opening minutes and there's at least some excitement.
"A 3-0 is not easy, but at the Etihad, City are strong and if they score the 1-0 early... you never know."
On Fede Valverde's hat-trick in the first-leg, he continued: "He played a tremendous match, he always gives his all and he's a physical marvel. He has an incredible stride and contributes a lot to Real Madrid. That's football for you, and nobody expected Valverde to score those three goals in the first leg."
Asked if City have changed since his days, Silva said: "Perhaps they play a bit more directly now. The signings have been in that direction. At my City, we combined a bit more, perhaps, but always with Pep's philosophy of keeping possession."
On Rodri, he concluded: "He still needs more playing time; we have to be patient because these injuries are complicated, and I say that from personal experience. I'm not just talking about the physical aspect, but the mental one as well. We'll see the old Rodri back soon."