Real Madrid sack Julen Lopetegui following bad start to season

Real Madrid sacked Julen Lopetegui as manager after four and a half months in charge at the Bernabeu.

The Spaniard succeeded Zinedine Zidane in June but the crushing 5-1 loss to Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday was their fifth loss in six games.

Real coach Julen Lopetegui reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. [Photo: AP]

Real, the Champions League winners for the past three years, are only ninth in La Liga after their worst start since 2001.

The club says Santiago Solari, the coach of Real Madrid's B team, will be in charge until a replacement to Lopetegui is appointed.

It is the second time Lopetegui has been sacked this year having been dismissed by Spain two days before the World Cup.