Karim Benzema will miss Real Madrid’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Juventus after failing to recover in time from a knee problem.
The France international has not featured for the reigning European champions since the goalless draw in the last round with city rivals Atletico.
Benzema returned to training on Sunday to raise hopes that he could feature against Juventus, but Madrid have now announced that he is not part of Carlo Ancelotti’s 20-man squad for Tuesday’s trip to Turin.
The absence of the former Lyon striker means that Javier Hernandez is likely to start up front again.
The Mexico international scored the winner in the quarter-final clash with Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu, while he has also been involved in four goals in his last three Liga outings.
There was some good news for Real, though, with Gareth Bale having been included in the travelling party after suffering no reaction to his recent calf injury following a substitute appearance against Sevilla at the weekend.
However, Germany international Sami Khedira has been left out of the squad.
