Just hours before his side's crunch Champions League match at Juventus on Tuesday, Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez returned to training back in Bavaria for the first time since knee surgery.

Bayern are currently without a fit centre-back in Turin with Germany internationals Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber both sidelined.

Central defenders Medhi Benatia and Serdar Tasci are both lacking conditioning and Martinez's return is a welcome boost for the runaway league leaders, coached by Pep Guardiola.

Exactly three weeks after surgery in Barcelona to repair the meniscus in his left knee, Martinez put in a 20-minute running session at Munich's Saebener Strasse training ground under the watchful eyes of Bayern's rehab coach.

"I'm very satisfied. I feel really good and I have no more pain," said the Spain international.

Martinez could be an option for the return leg of the last 16 clash against Juventus at Munich's Allianz Arena on May 16 if he recovers in time.