Earlyface

Real Madrid have sacked manager Julen Lopetegui after their El Clasico defeat by Barcelona.

The Spanish giants sit ninth in La Liga following their sixth league game without a win and their third successive defeat.

Barcelona ran out 5-1 winners thanks to a hat-trick from Luis Suarez and goals from Phillipe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal on Sunday afternoon.

Santiago Solari has been placed in interim charge after Antonio Conte reportedly ended talks over taking the role.

Lopetegui moved to Real in the summer after quitting Spain days before their World Cup campaign.

But he has paid the price for a disastrous start to the season.
 
Solari will only have three days to prepare for their Copa del Rey clash at Melilla before hosting Valladolid next Saturday.

A club statement read:

“The Board of Directors of Real Madrid CF, meeting today October 29, 2018, has agreed to terminate the contract of coach Julen Lopetegui.

“This decision, adopted from the highest level of responsibility, aims to change the dynamics of the first team, when all the objectives of this season are still achievable.


 
“The Board of Directors understands that there is a great disproportion between the quality of the staff of Real Madrid, which has 8 players nominated for the next Golden Ball, something unprecedented in the history of the club, and the results obtained to date.

“The club thanks Julen Lopetegui and all his technical team for their effort and work and wishes them the best in their professional career.

“He will be provisionally replaced by Santiago Solari, who will lead the first team starting on Tuesday.”