Bayern's Martinez out for 4 weeks due to knee surgery

Bayern Munich's Spanish defender Javi Martinez will be out for four weeks after undergoing an operation on his left knee, the German football club has announced.

"Javi Martinez was examined by Spanish physician Dr Ramon Cugat in Barcelona on Tuesday in the presence of Dr Ernst-Otto Munch," the Bavarian club said on its official website on Tuesday, reports Efe.

The surgery was necessary because the diagnosis confirmed minor damage to the meniscus in his left knee.

The Spanish international's injury has caused a problem at Bayern, since his teammate central defender Jerome Boateng is also injured and will be sidelined for about three months.

Both injured players will miss their side's match against Italian side Juventus in the Champions League on Februaury 23.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola had only Holger Badstuber in central defence, since Moroccan defender Mehdi Benatia is still recovering from his injury, so they had to sign Spartak Moscow's player Serdar Tasci on Monday.