Munich (dpa) – Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are set to be without defender Javi Martinez after the Spanish international was injured in the weekend draw with Cologne.

Martinez, 28, has a «groin sprain» according to a Bayern statement made Tuesday and is now facing an unspecified period on the sidelines after playing in all of the team’s competitive fixtures to date.

And Martinez will also miss out on Spain’s forthcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Italy and Albania on Thursday and Sunday.