Pellegrini on Real Madrid ropes

MADRID - Manuel Pellegrini, having splashed out over 250 million euros in a desperate attempt to halt the Barcelona juggernaut, looks doomed to become Real Madrid's ninth coaching casualty since 2003.

Already under pressure after dispiriting early exits from the Champions League and Kings Cup, the Chilean's future looked even more bleak on Sunday after his team's 2-0 home defeat to Barcelona in "El Clasico".

The loss means Real trail champions Barcelona by three points in the title race with seven games left and could face another season without a trophy.