Demichelis blow hits Bayern hard

A double facial fracture will keep defender Martín Demichelis out of FC Bayern München's decisive trip to ACF Fiorentina on 9 March, although there is better news about Daniel Van Buyten.

FC Bayern München will travel to ACF Fiorentina for Tuesday's crunch UEFA Champions League game without Martín Demichelis after the defender broke his cheekbone and upper jaw playing for Argentina against Germany.

Demichelis was caught by Michael Ballack's knee early in the second half of Argentina's 1-0 victory over the hosts at Bayern's Fußball Arena München last night, suffering the double facial injury. The 29-year-old has already undergone surgery and initial estimates are that he faces up to a month on the sidelines.

Tuesday's UEFA Champions League first knockout round second leg at Fiorentina definitely comes too soon for a player who will aim to be back in training in about three weeks' time. However Bayern, who will take a 2-1 lead to Florence, hope to have Demichelis's centre-back partner Daniel Van Buyten available by the weekend – and Saturday's visit to 1. FC Köln – as he is making quicker-than expected progress in recovering from a calf tear.
Demichelis blow hits Bayern hard