Real Madrid 'to sack Julen Lopetegui on Monday'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 28 October 2018

Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui will reportedly be sacked by the club on Monday, with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte lined up as his replacement.

Real Madrid will reportedly sack manager Julen Lopetegui on Monday following the club's 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Barcelona in El Clasico this afternoon.

Los Blancos have made their worst start to a season since 2001-02, with the defeat at Camp Nou meaning that they have now lost four of their last five La Liga games.

Madrid sit ninth in the table as a result, already seven points behind champions and leaders Barcelona having also recorded their lowest-scoring start to a season since 2004-05.

Reports before the Clasico suggested that Lopetegui could be sacked regardless of the result, but the heavy nature of the defeat is understood to have sealed his fate.

The Evening Standard reports that Madrid president Florentino Perez will dispense of Lopetegui on Monday, just 14 competitive matches into his reign.

The report also claims that former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is Perez's first choice to succeed Lopetegui, while Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho have also been mentioned as possible candidates.

Madrid are currently enduring their worst spell of form for more than nine years.