Antonio Conte is now odds-on to take charge of Real Madrid and succeed Julen Lopetegui as boss.

The pressure was already considerable on Lopetegui before the weekend, and before they suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to rivals Barcelona.

Lopetegui remained defiant after the game and said: “I feel sad at the moment, but with full strength to remain in charge of this group.

“This is a tough blow, but I am strong enough to know everything can be turned around. There is a long way to go, and I have a lot of faith in this group of players.”

However, Bookmakers have already suspended betting on him being sacked and it is former Chelsea and Juventus chief Conte that looks on course to step into the hot-seat at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Conte is odds on, at just 1/2 with Coral to be the next Real Madrid manager.

“Lopetegui’s position now looks untenable and it is surely just a matter of time before his ill-fated spell in charge ends. All roads are leading to Antonio Conte and we make the former Chelsea boss heavily odds on to be appointed as the next Real Madrid manager,” said Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead.