Sports Burst – ZZ Top of Real Madrid
Real Madrid rumored to be announcing return of Zinedine Zidane as coach in face of imminent Santiago Solari sacking
By Tim Stannard
Internet rumor-mill has Zinedine Zidane returning to Real Madrid after woeful week for Santiago Solari
Santiago Solari woke up on Monday still in possession of the role as manager of Real Madrid. It’s unlikely that the unfortunate Argentinean will be going to bed in possession of the role as manager of Real Madrid. But on the bright side, Solari could be considerably richer having been terminated from the Real Madrid job just months into a contract lasting until 2021.
That’s because the inter-verse, Twitter, tea-leaves, pigeons, and Mad Harry on the corner is declaring that Coach Zizou is back, back, back as Real Madrid manager. And the appointment could be made as early as Monday. Which is today.
Despite Zinedine Zidane spotting the upcoming downward spiral of the club way back in June and taking off on an extended vacation, the Frenchman is set to return for a second helping of being Real Madrid coach, but in incredibly different circumstances. The club has literally nothing to play for this season aside from fending off Getafe in fourth, Cristiano Ronaldo is gone, Isco is exiled, Gareth Bale is…Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos is now interviewing himself on Instagram.
Tune into the Sports Burst live show at 12PM ET / 9AM PT on our beIN SPORTS Facebook page to see if Real Madrid has made a fourth coaching change in just 10 months and find out what Ray Hudson makes of it all.
Champions League chat as last batch of Last 16 teams gets going
While Real Madrid continues on its own - admittedly enormous - universe on Monday, the last batch of Champions League games in the Last 16 round will begin sizzling.
Ajax, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Porto are through to Friday's quarterfinal stage draw and four more teams will be joining them.
Today will see the coaches of the games involving Manchester City and Schalke, Juventus and Atletico Madrid speaking.
While City are expected to seal the deal in a tie where they hold a 3-2 advantage over their really struggling Bundesliga opponents, the real juice is to be found in Turin where Project Ronaldo might be falling at the first hurdle for the Old Lady.
At 2-0 down and against a team that actively enjoys keeping clean sheets and winning by 1-0, the odds are that this could the last Champions League game with Massimo Allegri in charge of Juve.
Barcelona is facing Lyon and Bayern Munich takes on Liverpool on Wednesday in two tasty matches that are goalless from the first legs.
The Locker Room is the place to be at 7:30PM ET / 4:30PM PT for the big Champions League predictions from our panel.
Ranieri takes charge of Roma as Osaka plays in Indian Wells
Elsewhere in the wide, wide, world of sport on Monday and Claudio Ranieri will take charge of Roma in another stint on the bench of the Serie A side.
Roma is currently six points off Inter in fourth spot and facing Empoli at home. Catch the highlights of that game on the XTRA at 7PM ET / 4PM PT.
The Indian Wells tournament continues in tennis on Monday, but without Serena Williams who withdrew from her clash on Sunday with Garbine Muguruza through injury.
Venus Williams will be up against Christina McHale in an all-American Round of 32 tie on Monday. World number one, Naomi Osaka is in action against Danielle Collins.
In the men's bracket, Novak Djokovic takes on Philipp Kohlschreiber in a Round of 32 encounter.