Real Madrid news LIVE: Julen Lopetegui faces the sack as team prepare for Viktoria Plzen and Barcelona clashes

Real Madrid begin a huge week which sees them in Champions League action, face Barcelona in the Clasico, and the possibility of sacking manager Julen Lopetegui as well.

Julen Lopetegu lived to fight another day after facing up to the media on Monday to preview Real Madrid’s clash with Viktoria Plzen .

It is believed that the former Spain head coach may have been sacked on Sunday - 24 hours after Levante inflicted their fourth defeat in five games - had it not been for the forthcoming Champions League tie.

Reports in the Spanish capital on Monday morning referred to Lopetegui as being ‘virtually sacked’, and club president Florentino Perez has some serious decisions to make.

Lopetegui insisted he was focussed on seeing Real ‘recover’ but would not confirm whether he would be in the dugout for Sunday’s El Clasico clash with Barcelona.

Stay to our live blog for all the latest news and rumours surrounding Real Madrid with expert analysis from our Spanish football correspondent Ben Hayward.

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