Julen Lopetegui set to be sacked, report Sky Sports News

The former Spanish National team manager has endured a tough spell at the helm of the Los Blancos.

After a string of dismal performances, reports in Spain and England suggest Real Madrid are set to sack Julen Lopetegui after only 12 games in charge. Lopetegui took over from Zinedine Zidane in June after the Frenchmen left the club following a completion of the UEFA Champions League trophy hat-trick.

Lopetegui was with the Spain National team at the time of his announcement of joining Real Madrid. In the aftermath of the revelation, he was sacked as the national coach in awe of conflict of interests. He was dismissed from the camp two days before the start of the World Cup earlier this year with former player Fernando Hierro taking charge of the national side.

The life in Madrid did not start well for him, a crunching defeat of 4-2 in the Spanish Super Cup to city rivals Atletico Madrid and three losses in the league which have put them in the seventh position in the La Liga standings.

Real Madrid have lost their straight third game this weekend with dating back their last win on 23rd September against Espanyol at home. The Los Blancos are also currently on a five-game winless run in all competitions.

It was earlier reported that Real Madrid has contacted Antonio Conte, with keeping him as the possible replacement for Julen. 

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Before the October transfer window, Real lost 1-0 away to CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League. They returned to Santiago Bernabeu after the international break only to lose against Levante, setting a new club record of a goal-scoring drought of 481 minutes. 

A Champions League visit of Viktoria Plzen is up next for the club before they head to Barcelona next Sunday for the first El Clasico of the season. Recent reports in Spain suggest that the dismissal of Julen is set to take place before the El Clasico, however, if postponed then a defeat against the arch-rivals will seal the fate of the former Spain manager at the Bernabeu.