Real Madrid planning on Bale, Benzema being available vs. Juventus

Sorry, Juventus fans.

Real Madrid is expecting to be at full strength - minus Luka Modric, of course - by the time the opening leg of their Champions League semifinal rolls around next week.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti held a press conference on Tuesday, and among the many questions posed to him was a query over the fitness of two-thirds of his superstar attacking trio, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

"We reckon Bale will be back for the Sevilla game (this weekend). He will work on his own today and tomorrow and could return to the team after that," Ancelotti said. 

"Benzema will start training with the team again on Sunday. He will travel to Turin by coach and airplane like the rest of the players. He'll be in the right shape to do that. He is not at full fitness, but we need him for this semi-final, just like we need the whole squad."

Bale has not played since suffering a calf injury early in a match against Malaga on April 18, while Benzema has been sidelined since the opening leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid, when he sustained a knee problem.