Lopetegui lurches into Real crisis

Beleaguered coach's future appears to hinge on Sunday's El Clasico

MADRID - Real Madrid's players offered a show of public support for Julen Lopetegui on the weekend, but if they fail to win at home against Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday their words will mean very little.

"Julen has the backing of the entire team," Sergio Ramos said after Madrid's 2-1 loss to Levante on Saturday, its fourth defeat in five games and third in a row. "We are with him to the death."