Lopetegui faces last minutes as Real Madrid manager

At time of writing, Julen Lopetegui is theoretically the coach of Real Madrid. However, the Spaniard has as much authority in running first team affairs at the club today as Kurt Russell.

That is thanks in part to a 5-1 crushing handed out by Barcelona in El Clasico in the Camp Nou on Sunday to all but end a rather sorry - and short - tenure for Lopetegui at Madrid.

Monday's league table shows Real Madrid in ninth spot - behind Getafe! - and in relegation form with four defeats in five in La Liga.

To mark this low point for Madrid, Spanish daily Marca has gone into full-on funereal mode on Monday with a sombre front cover blasting the point that "It's not just Julen's fault". 

The paper is also waving the finger of blame at the sporting planning of club president Florentino Perez over the summer, who failed to find an adequate replacement for the departed Cristiano Ronaldo.

Tune into the Locker Room at 7:30PM ET / 4:30PM PT where the finest minds of beIN SPORTS will happily assign the blame for Real Madrid's latest crisis.

Antonio Conte in talks to take over at Real Madrid

The reason why Lopetegui has not been sacked just three months into the La Liga season is that the Spaniard's replacement has yet to be confirmed. But it is surely a matter of hours before the polemic figure of Antonio Conte is announced as the latest incarnation of Real Madrid's boss.

The former Chelsea manager is reportedly in London to tie up "bureaucratic" issues with the Stamford Bridge club which the Italian left over the summer. Conte is then expected in the Spanish capital before being given the keys to the club as early as Monday.

The plus side for Real Madrid fans is that Conte is an experienced, respected coach who delivers trophies.

The bad is that the Italian is a hard-driving, demanding manager, the kind not usually liked by Real Madrid's players. The appointment is probably bad news for Thibaut Courtois, too, whose relationship with Conte at Chelsea was not the best, and also Eden Hazard who is unlikely to join Real Madrid any time soon for the same reason.

Find out what Sports Burst in human form thinks, with our live show on the beIN SPORTS Facebook page at 12AM ET / 9AM PT.

Leicester City mourns death of miracle owner

Monday sees Leicester City fans mourn the tragic death of the club's owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died with four others in a helicopter crash on Saturday night, soon after the team's Premier League match against West Ham United.  

The Thai businessman bought the team in 2010 to lead Leicester City out of the Championship but then completed one of the most remarkable stories in sports history by overseeing Leicester City's Premier League title win in 2016, a 5000-1 shot. 

 

        View this post on Instagram                   Struggling to find the right words....but to me you are legend, an incredible man who had the biggest heart, the soul of Leicester City Football Club. Thank you for everything you did for me, my family and our club. I will truly miss you.... may you rest in peace...#theboss A post shared by Jamie Vardy (@vardy7) on Oct 28, 2018 at 3:15pm PDT

Tributes continue to be made for Srivaddhanaprabha, with one of the most poignant coming from City goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, who was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the crashed helicopter - "we must honor your legacy by delivering for you on the pitch."

Epic soccer encounters across Europe 

Although Leicester City's EFL Cup game against Southampton on Tuesday has been postponed, the Premier League continues on Monday with one of the ties of the weekend in Europe.  

Manchester City has the chance to go back to the top of the table - equal on points with Liverpool - with an away win against a Tottenham team that is on a run of four straight EPL wins, but always capable of "pulling a Spurs" and crumbling when the pressure is on. 
 

Serie A is serving up a spicy encounter too with Lazio hosting Inter in a fourth against third battle. The Turkish Super Lig is wrapping up with Besiktas looking to move into the top four with a home clash against Rizespor that is live on beIN SPORTS at 1PM ET / 10AM PT. 

Catch the best of all the action on The XTRA at 7PM ET / 4PM PT.