Madrid - Spanish giants Barcelona confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that defender Rafa Marquez will be out of action for around three months. Marquez, 30, tore the external and internal cartilage in his left knee in Tuesday's 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea, in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The Mexican defender will undergo an operation to remove the damaged cartilage on May 2.

Marquez has been plagued by various muscle injuries since joining Barca from AS Monaco in 2003, but this is the first serious injury that he has suffered. (dpa)