MADRID - THE stakes could not be higher as double champions Real Madrid host leaders Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in a duel that could determine the fate of this season's Spanish championship.

Barcelona hold a four-point cushion over Real going into El Clasico' so victory would virtually secure the title with just four games left, however, if Real win they would be just a point behind cranking up the pressure on Pep Guardiola's side.

ROME - INTER Milan coach Jose Mourinho on Thursday refused to apologise for comments he made earlier this season claiming none of his team's Serie A rivals would win any trophies.

Mourinho angered the likes of AC Milan and Juventus after his team were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United when he said Inter would definitely win the scudetto while the others would finish the season empty-handed.

MIDDLESBROUGH - SIR Alex Ferguson is ready to display the huge strength in depth at his disposal as Manchester United bid to stretch their advantage at the top of the English Premier League to six points.

The Old Trafford manager will ring the changes as the leaders go in search of their latest victory against relegation-threatened Middlesbrough at a 34,000-sell-out Riverside Stadium on Saturday.