Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid: 5 things to watch out for in the first leg

#3 Homecoming: James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos

The return of the prodigal sons: James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos

James Rodriguez joined Real Madrid in 2014 from AS Monaco, for a hefty fee of £63 million. He has had a trophy-laden career at Real Madrid, winning two Champions League titles and a La Liga title.

The Colombian had a difficult time at Real Madrid and didn't get enough playing time, to be able to make justice to his potential. He was pushed down in the pecking order because of the presence of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. In the last season, the competition with Marco Asensio, Isco and Mateo Kovacic also limited his playing time further even though he scored 11 goals and bagged 13 assists.

He moved to Bayern Munich on a loan transfer and has lit up the Bundesliga with his skills, winning the Bundesliga this season. He will definitely be looking to go out and prove a point against his old club.

Toni Kroos, the perfect midfield engine, on the other hand, used to be a Bayern Munich player, having come from their academy. He established a solid partnership with Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield and was a part of the very successful Bayern team in the early years of this decade.

He went on to sign for Real in the summer of 2014 and has become an indisputable member of the squad. His partnership with Luka Modric and Casemiro in the midfield provides balance to the team. He has won the UCL twice and the La Liga with Los Blancos. It will surely be a trip down the memory lane for him when he comes out to play in the Allianz Arena.