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With pressure already on their Champions League last-16 second leg on March 12, the Milan club are in need of a win against the Italian capital side to boost their hopes of qualifying for Europe's top competition next season.

Milan sit in fourth, two points behind the Roma-based club in third place and a mere point ahead of city rivals Inter in fifth who they drew 1-1 with last weekend, and Allegri is aware of the importance of the upper-table clash.

"It will be a difficult game as it always is against the top teams," the 45-year-old told reporters at a press conference on Friday.

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has denied rumours that contract talks with Andreas Weimann have stalled, insisting everything is 'fine'.

The Austrian has 17 months remaining on his current deal and recent speculation has suggested the conversations have hit a wall.

But the former Norwich manager played down the validity of the rumours, assuring fans that everything is normal and pointing out there are more important things to be worrying about with the Midlands club stuck in a relegation battle.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini concedes Vincent Kompany will struggle to be fit in time for Monday's clash at Aston Villa.

Kompany has been on the sidelines for the past five games having suffered a calf injury during the 1-0 victory over Stoke in their FA Cup fourth-round tie.

The Belgium international has been training with the club physio having suffered a further setback with his other calf.

Borussia Dortmund president Reinhard Rauball believes Mats Hummels is irreplaceable at the club.

The 24-year-old defender fell ill just before the midweek DFB-Pokal game with Bayern Munich after suffering with flu.

Subsequently, it was the Bavarians who progressed with a 1-0 victory, and Rauball thinks the Germany international's withdrawal proved pivotal in the outcome of the result.

"We missed Mats hugely in three areas: as a stabiliser in the defence, in the game design and also in standards," Rauball told Bild.

Dortmund host Hannover on Saturday, and coach Juergen Klopp admitted he is unsure whether Hummels will be fit for the game.

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed his interest in taking a boardroom role at Manchester United when he retires as the club's manager.

The 71-year-old first announced he would retire from the game in 2002, but he remains in charge at Old Trafford and has lead the side to the top of the Premier League table this term.

Asked when he intends to finally step down, Ferguson told reporters: "There's no getting rid of me, I will probably become director.

Kaka believes a Real Madrid victory over Barcelona on Saturday would be ideal preparation for their Champions League tie with Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho's men dumped Barca out of the Copa del Rey on Tuesday and face them again in La Liga on Saturday, though the match is considered of less importance due to Barca's dominance this campaign in the top tier.

With Real's trip to England coming up on Tuesday, the Brazilian said it is critical that they record another victory over their arch-rivals.

"To go to Manchester in good form it is important that we beat Barcelona tomorrow," the Brazilian told reporters.

Der Mittelfeldspieler hält einen Sieg im "Clasico" am Samstag für die ideale Möglichkeit, um Schwung für die Champions League mitzunehmen.