Badstuber faces another lengthy lay-off

Luckless Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber is facing another lengthy injury lay-off due to a thigh muscle tear, the club have confirmed.

Centre-back Badstuber’s career has been ravaged by injuries in recent times, but he looked to be settling in as a regular in the Bayern back four again with a run in the side following his return from thigh problems in February.

The Germany international had previously missed the second half of the 2012-13 campaign and the entire 2013-14 season because of a cruciate knee ligament problem, which also prevented him from taking any part in his country’s successful World Cup campaign.

And Badstuber will now have to again watch from the sidelines as Pep Guardiola’s men look to win the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champions League.

Badstuber suffered his latest injury during Bayern’s 6-1 Champions League quarter-final second-leg win over Porto, which saw them through to the semi-finals 7-4 on aggregate, and will fly to Colorado for surgery.

“Obviously I’m very disappointed at the moment,” Badstuber told Bayern’s official website. “But despite it all I’m remaining positive and I’ll be back again fully fit.

“I know everything will be done for me at FC Bayern so I can come back as an important part of the team.”

Chariman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: “We’re so sorry for Holger. He worked so hard towards his latest comeback – and now this.

“But we’ve come to know and value Holger as a fighter. He’ll never allow himself to become discouraged even by this new injury. He knows how important he is to us.

“That will spur him on during the sports rehabilitation phase and help him recover fitness as quickly as possible.”