Madrid - Spanish champions Real Madrid announced Wednesday afternoon that defender Pepe would miss that night's Champions League home game with Juventus.

The Portuguese defender failed a late fitness test after pulling the quadriceps muscle in his left thigh in Sunday's 1-1 draw in an away game with Almeria. He has still not properly recovered.

Real coach Bernd Schuster will now have to decide whether to bring

in German central defender Christoph Metzelder, as he did against Almeria, or play Gabriel Heinze in the centre alongside Fabio Cannavaro. He would then put Marcelo at left-back instead of Heinze.

The good news for Real is that veteran striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy has overcome the sinovitis in his right knee and is ready to return, after missing two weeks.

Juventus tops Group H with seven points, one more than Real, after beating the Spaniards 2-1 in Turin two weeks ago. (dpa)