BENITEZ OUT, ZIDANE IN?

REPORTS REACHING US CONFIRMS THAT REAL MADRID MANAGER RAFA BENITEZ IS TO BE SACKED BY THE CLUB WITH ZINADINE ZIDANE LIKELY TO TAKE OVER.

SPORTS DAILY MARCA REPORTED THAT BENITEZ'S SACKING WILL BE MADE OFFICIAL IN THE COMING HOURS WITH FRENCH LEGEND AND THE CLUB'S RESERVE TEAM COACH ZIDANE TO TAKE OVER AS MANAGER TILL THE END OF THE SEASON

MADRID TWICE THREW AWAY THE LEAD IN DRAWING 2-2 AWAY TO VALENCIA ON SUNDAY TO LEAVE BENITEZ'S MEN FOUR POINTS BEHIND LOCAL RIVALS ATLETICO MADRID AT THE TOP OF LA LIGA.

THEY ALSO TRAIL RIVALS BARCELONA BY TWO POINTS HAVING PLAYED A GAME MORE.

A RUN OF THREE LEAGUE DEFEATS IN FIVE GAMES IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, INCLUDING A 4-0 THRASHING AT HOME TO BARCELONA, WIPED AWAY THE EARLY CREDIT BENITEZ HAD GAINED WITH A 14 GAME UNBEATEN RUN TO START HIS REIGN.

BENITEZ'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DRESSING ROOM HAS ALSO FAILED TO IMPROVE WITH KEY PLAYERS SUCH AS BENZEMA AND JAMES RODRIGUEZ OFTEN SHOWING THEIR DISGUST AT BEING SUBSTITUTED.

WELL, LET'S WAIT AND SEE HOW IT GOES AT THE SPANISH CAPITAL.