Real Madrid have sacked their head coach Julen Lopetegui after a dismal start to the season.

Lopetegui took charge in the summer, succeeding Zinedine Zidane – who had led the club to three successive Champions League titles.

But Real have dismissed Lopetegui after their worst start to a season in nearly 25 years, culminating in a 5-1 loss at arch-rivals Barcelona on Sunday.

Real have placed former player Santiago Solari – head coach of their B Team Castilla in temporary charge, the same route Zidane took.

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte had been odds-on to replace Lopetegui, but it is understood a number of senior players and those in and around president Florentino Perez were and are unconvinced about the Italian.

Now Scolari is firm favourite to land the role on a permanent basis. William Hill make Solari 8/15 to land the job, with Conte out to 13/8.