Bayern Munich's Rafinha ruled out 2 weeks with ankle injury

Bayern Munich defender Rafinha is set to miss the club's first match since the winter break after suffering an ankle injury during training.

The club announced the right-back will be forced to miss two weeks of training after injuring the lateral collateral ligament in his left ankle Wednesday.

The injury means Rafinha will miss crucial matches to begin the second half of the season as Bayern get set to face second-place Wolfsburg on Sunday and matches against Schalke and VFB Stuttgart.

It's a tough blow for the defending Bundesliga champions since Rafinha has played an important role in the team's dominant start to the season. The Brazilian defender has been a reliable contributor in Pep Guardiola's back line, starting 12 of Bayern Munich's 17 league matches.

His injury is coupled with news that midfielder Franck Ribery will also be sidelined with an injury after the Frenchman tore a muscle in the back of his right thigh and will be sidelined for three matches.