Reports in Spain claim that Real Madrid will sack manager Rafa Benitez by the end of today.

The former Liverpool manager has been under-pressure for much of this season, having replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the summer.

Real missed a chance to close the gap on rivals Barcelona on Sunday night when they drew 2-2 at Gary Neville's Valencia and were down to ten men after Mateo Kovacic's dismissal.

That result left the 10-time European Cup/Champions League winners four points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid and two in arrears of Barca, who have a game in hand.

Benitez had been booed vociferously by Real fans ahead of the club's 3-1 win over Real Sociedad last week.

Madrid-based sports daily Marca, which is sometimes regarded as a mouth-piece for the capital club has claimed that president Florentino Perez has called a meeting to discuss Benitez's future amid suggestions that a parting of the ways could be announced by 5.30pm.

Real Madrid Castilla manager Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the position should it become vacant.