4 storylines to follow in the Champions League on Tuesday

Here are four things to watch as the Champions League makes its awaited return Tuesday from what felt like an abnormally protracted absence.

Ronaldo closing in on history

Cristiano Ronaldo has a chance, albeit an outside one, to add to his ever-growing lore on Tuesday evening.

The sculpted Portuguese needs only five goals to become the first player in Champions League history to reach the 100-tally plateau, and will have a golden opportunity to close on that milestone against a leaky Legia Warsaw side at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Warsaw, last in Group F after two losses, has conceded 16 goals in all competitions since the start of September, including a 6-0 annihilation at the hands of Borussia Dortmund to open its Champions League campaign.

Madrid, meanwhile, rebounded from a mini skid by slamming six past Real Betis this weekend.

It's a long shot, sure, but would you bet against Ronaldo, knowing his desire to deliver grandiose scoring performances?

He only has four goals for Los Blancos this season, so if you prescribe to the notion that he's due for a big breakout, this would be the game for it.

Track meet at the BayArena

Swap out your football boots from some track and field spikes, friends. We're going sprinting.

Arguably the most intriguing contest of the day will see Bayer Leverkusen host Tottenham, a match that pits two of Europe's most aggressive sides, each with a manager who preaches high-pressing, 100-mph football - and expects it to last for 90 minutes.

Roger Schmidt, 49, and Mauricio Pochettino, 44, have seen their reputations skyrocket in recent years, and the two young bench bosses with similar philosophies will pit wits in a crucial Group E contest that could leave a potential loser in serious trouble.

"We’re happy when the game is intense," Schmidt said of his dynamic system in an interview with the Guardian. "Even against teams that are supposedly better than us, like Bayern Munich or Barcelona last season in the Champions League, we try and make them play our football - that’s what we demand of our opponents, and if it works we normally win the game.

Of Spurs, who should pose a fascinating obstacle given the like-minded philosophy of Pochettino, Schmidt said: "I look at teams and I know what the manager is like and what kind of football they like to play. I’m excited about the comparison and I’m looking forward to seeing how we handle the situation.

"These two games against Tottenham will be a huge challenge for us."

And they'll be equally crucial. With group leader Monaco slated for two consecutive fixtures against CSKA Moscow, two wins for either Tottenham or Leverkusen could cripple the other side's hope of reaching the knockout stages.

Will the Leicester legend continue to grow?

Sputtering in the Premier League with a paltry eight points from as many matches - thanks in large part to an absurdly difficult schedule to begin the new season after last year's fairy tale title win - Leicester City has enjoyed a dream start to life in Europe's marquee club competition.

The Foxes top Group G after wins over Club Brugge (mildly impressive) and perennial Champions League competitor Porto (significantly more impressive), and will look to maintain its unblemished record when FC Copenhagen comes to town.

Claudio Ranieri, the Tinkerman-turned-Thinkerman, as he dubbed himself, has no hesitation when outlining which competition takes precedence for his club.

"In the Premier League we must be safe at the end of the year. The Champions League is now," Ranieri said ahead of the contest.

"At this moment, it's a priority."

A win over the Danish side on Tuesday, and winning the group - and, in theory, earning a favourable knockout round draw - becomes a very real possibility.

Juventus looking to make a statement

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri rotated his squad heavily over the weekend, with Gonzalo Higuain, Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira, Dani Alves, and Leonardo Bonucci all being rested - though the latter did come off the bench late - in the slim win over Udinese.

Without a doubt, he had one eye on the trip to France, where the Old Lady will be greeted by a Lyon side that looks vulnerable, having won just three of its last eight matches.

Les Gones should have the services of in-demand striker Alexandre Lacazette, whose injury-induced absence has played a massive role in the club's recent struggles. After being sidelined since early September with a thigh problem, the young Frenchman played 26 minutes off the bench in the weekend loss to Nice, ostensibly in preparation for Juve's visit.

The Italian side, tied with Sevilla for top spot in Group H, goes into the contest as the favourite, though Gianluigi Buffon - who has made some costly, uncharacteristic errors of late - isn't taking anything for granted.

"They're a team we respect a lot because they have undeniable quality," the iconic shot-stopped said.

"But it's also true that our aim is to go as far as possible in the Champions League and be a major player in the competition. That's why we have to show other teams that we're able to send out a signal by winning this match."