Benzema out of Juve clash

Madrid - Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has not recovered sufficiently from a knee injury and has been left out of the squad for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg at Juventus, the holders said on Monday.

The France international sustained the injury in last month's quarter-final first leg at Atletico Madrid and although he only returned to training on Sunday, coach Carlo Ancelotti had expressed hope he would be fit.

Real's Mexico forward Javier Hernandez could start upfront in Turin alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, who returned from a calf problem as a second-half substitute in Saturday's 3-2 La Liga win at Sevilla.