Berlin: Two of Europe’s greatest clubs will go head to head in the Champions League on Wednesday as Bayern Munich host Real Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final.
These star-studded teams are hardly strangers to the latter stages of Europe’s premier tournament and there are four men who know how it feels to represent both the white of Real and the red of Bayern.
Here we look at their experiences at both clubs.
Jupp Heynckes
Fifteen years later, Heynckes was a European champion again as coach of Bayern, who also won the Bundesliga and the German Cup under his stewardship that season.
It remains Bayern’s only treble in the club’s history, although Heynckes could still repeat the feat this term, before he retires — for a second time — in the close season.
Arjen Robben
After scoring only 11 times in 50 league games for Real, he found his rhythm again at Bayern, whom he joined in 2009.
The Dutchman has won seven Bundesliga titles with the German giants, as well as the Champions League in 2013, and recently followed Franck Ribery in signing a contract extension until 2019.
Toni Kroos
He went on to win three Bundesliga titles and the Champions League at Bayern, but a contract dispute in 2014 opened the door to a surprise switch to Real.
Forming a strong partnership alongside Luka Modric in midfield, Bayern’s loss has been Real’s gain, as Kroos has clinched two European triumphs since, as well as the Spanish title last year.
James Rodriguez
But the Colombian struggled to live up to his huge price tag and issues off the field began to chime with his disappointing performances on it.
Moving to Bayern on loan this season has revitalised James though, and all the indications are Bayern plan to take up their option to sign him permanently for 42 million euros.