MADRID: Real Madrid followed its Copa del Rey victory with a 6-3 drubbing of third-place Valencia while Lionel Messi's 50th goal helped Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-0 Saturday to remain on course for a third straight Spanish league title. Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat trick, Kaka scored twice and Karim Benzema added to the tally as Madrid returned to Mestalla Stadium three days after hoisting its 18th domestic cup and first trophy in nearly three years with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Barcelona. Madrid became the first visiting team to notch six goals at the Mestalla to maintain pressure on Barcelona, which failed to sparkle but did enough to stretch its unbeaten league run to 31 games thanks to goals either side of the half from David Villa and Messi. Barcelona maintained its eight-point advantage over Madrid with just five games to play. Mourinho not to return to Inter this season Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has said that “one day” he will return to work at Inter Milan, but that it won't be next season. The Portuguese won the Champions League, two Italian titles and the Italian Cup in two years at Inter, before he left for Madrid in 2010. His successor Rafael Benitez was replaced by Leonardo after less than six months in charge. Leonardo only has a contract for this season and the Italian press has speculated that Mourinho could return when it runs out. “Please stop talking about Mourinho being at Inter next season,” Mourinho was quoted as saying in Saturday's Gazzetta dello Sport. “Myself and Inter will always be linked, and one day we will work together again. But not next year. Inter has a fantastic president and superb staff. Let them and Leo work together in peace so that they can finish this season strongly and prepare properly for next season. I will stay with Madrid next season.” On Wednesday Mourinho won his first trophy since taking over Real Madrid, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored an extratime winner in a 1-0 victory over Barcelona to claim the Copa del Rey. Barcelona is eight points clear in La Liga with six games remaining and the sides will also meet in the Champions League semifinals. Last season Mourinho's Inter Milan beat Barcelona 3-2 in the last four to reach the final in Madrid. Raul opens heart Schalke forward Raul has revealed he could have been lining up for Manchester United in next week's Champions League semifinal against his current club. Raul was offered the chance to join United last year when it became clear that his long spell at Real Madrid was over. The 33-year-old's representatives were in contact with United as he considered his future, but the Spanish forward opted to move to Schalke instead and has played a key role in their surprise run to the last four of Europe's elite club competition. Instead of wearing United's red shirt, Raul will run out in Schalke blue for the first leg of the semifinal in Germany Tuesday.
