Real Madrid: Lopetegui sacked, Solari caretaker: as it happened
Real Madrid have sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui after Clásico defeat to Barcelona, and appointed Castilla boss Santi Solari as caretaker.
Lopetegui fired by Real Madrid, Solari put in charge
Read our full report: Lopetegui sacked; Solari named caretaker coach
Lopetegui sacked by Real Madrid: as it happened
Real Madrid: Lopetegui's future and live rumours - preview
Julen Lopetegui is expected to be sacked as Real Madrid coach this evening, just four months after his controversial appointment by the club on the eve of the 2018 World Cup. Lopetegui had been set to lead Spain in Russia, only for the announcement that he was to replace Zinedine Zidane - made three days before La Roja's tournament opener against Portugal - to lead Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales to dismiss the 52-year-old. Now, having won just six of his 14 games at Madrid, he is on the verge of being fired once more.
In the wake of Sunday's 5-1 Clásico defeat to Barcelona, which left Los Blancos down in ninth position in LaLiga, the club's board of directors is due to meet at 18:30 CET today to discuss his future and, in all likelihood, agree to Lopetegui's dismissal. Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had been the favourite to take over but is now reported to be out of the running, with Castilla coach Santiago Solari in the frame to take interim charge of the first team at Melilla in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, and at home to Real Valladolid in LaLiga on Saturday.