Real Madrid and Barcelona can't afford a Champions League hangover as their La Liga title hopes will again be on the line on Saturday as they host Valencia and Real Sociedad respectively. However, the title race has been overshadowed by the threat of possible shutdown of the league season next weekend due to an ongoing row between the Spanish Football Federation, the players' union and the league over the distribution of funds from a new law passed allowing the centralised selling of television rights. Senior players from both Real and Barca, including club captains Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez, were present at a press conference on Thursday that backed the players' union's stance unless a solution is found before next weekend. Madrid trail Barca by two points at the top of the table with three games to play and face the significantly tougher task this weekend against a Valencia side looking to seal their place in next season's Champions League with a fourth-place finish. Valencia ended the European champions' 22-game winning streak when the sides met back in January and Madrid could also pay for their efforts in losing 2-1 to Juventus in the first-leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday. "It has an influence, but they have great players and a very good technical staff that know how to manage the players," Valencia striker Paco Alcacer said on Thursday. "However, we can only look after ourselves. It is important that Valencia are in the Champions League and that is all we are focusing on." "It is clear we can beat Madrid. We go there with the mentality that we can take the three points and keep going towards our objectives." Madrid could have striker Karim Benzema back as he returned to training on Thursday having missed the last six games due to a knee injury. Valencia will be without former Madrid forward Rodrigo through suspension, but Jose Luis Gaya is expected to start despite continued interest from Real in signing him come the end of the season. Barca could move five points clear at the top before Madrid kick-off at the Bernabeu as they host David Moyes's Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou. A 1-0 defeat to Sociedad in January proved to be the turning point in Barca's season as coach Luis Enrique controversially left Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench after they arrived back from their Christmas break in South America later than the rest of their teammates. Both men were on target as the Catalans all but booked their place in the Champions League final with a 3-0 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday to register their 27th win in 29 games since that reverse in San Sebastian to remain on course for a treble. "It was our objective since the start of the season and we are getting closer all the time," said Neymar. "In La Liga we have a very difficult game this weekend and we need to fight until the end." Should Valencia lose to Real, Atletico Madrid can mathematically seal third place and an automatic return to the Champions League next season when they travel to Levante on Sunday. Levante are one of six sides still fighting for survival and Granada look the most likely to boost their chances of beating the drop this weekend when they host already relegated Cordoba. A Valencia defeat could also open the door to Sevilla in the fight for fourth place as they would move level on points with Los Che with a win at Celta Vigo on Sunday. Fixtures Friday Eibar v Espanyol (1845) Saturday Granada v Cordoba Barcelona v Real Sociedad Real Madrid v Valencia Athletic Bilbao v Deportivo la Coruna Sunday Levante v Atletico Madrid Villarreal v Elche Almeria v Malaga Celta Vigo v Sevilla Monday Rayo Vallecano v Getafe

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said on Friday he had been "forced" to sign PSV Eindhoven's Memphis Depay now because otherwise he risked losing the Dutch starlet to Paris Saint-Germain.

Depay joined United from Dutch champions PSV in a £25 million transfer on Thursday on a reported four-year contract.

Van Gaal said he broke with his own usual transfer protocol to conclude the deal, which will be formally completed when Depay undergoes a medical next week, in order to head off interest from PSG.

"I have been forced to sign him before the end of this season," Van Gaal told a news conference on Friday.

"We have to focus on the remaining games but when you sign a new player you can disturb the focus of the current ones," the Dutch manager added.

"But because of the market, we had to handle this because otherwise he would have signed for Paris Saint-Germain," he added.

"At that time he was not reached by me. But because of the club's relationship with PSV, I could handle it," the former Netherlands national team boss explained, with United having signed Jaap Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy from the Dutch giants in the past.

Meanwhile United's hopes of securing a top-four finish and Champions League football were dealt a blow when Van Gaal said influential midfielder Michael Carrick will not play again this season.

As recently as last week, Van Gaal was claiming he fully expected the England international to play a part in the closing stages of a campaign which could yet result in frustration were his team to lose out to bitter rivals Liverpool in the chase for a top-four place.

But Van Gaal revealed on Friday that Carrick's calf injury, sustained in the derby victory over Manchester City last month, was worse than first thought.

"Carrick is not available, it was more serious than we thought," Van Gaal told a news conference.

"We tried everything but now we have to think about next season. He shall not play anymore this season, it's better now to focus for him on next season and being fit to start."

SELECTION NOT BALANCED

The United manager, whose side are away to Crystal Palace on Saturday, said Carrick's absence would hurt his side.

"When you see the stats, it's clear that he's very important but that's also because we have only right-sided holding midfielders.

"That's what I have been saying already in the whole of the season, that our selection is not balanced, and I want to restore that in the next transfer period," he added.

"Life is not ending at 34, but for a professional football player, it's close by. That's why I have to handle again in that position," Van Gaal explained.

The value of the 33-year-old Carrick to United has been particularly evident in the games since the derby win which have seen United lose consecutive matches to Chelsea, Everton and West Bromwich Albion without him in the line-up.

Van Gaal, meanwhile, congratulated Chelsea and their manager, Jose Mourinho, for winning the Premier League title and refuted the claim from some quarters that the wealthy London club were not worthy champions.

"I have sent him (Mourinho) a message but I don't know if he has received it because he is always changing his number," joked Van Gaal, who had Mourinho as a member of his staff when he was coach of Barcelona.

"But I want to wish Jose Mourinho my congratulations for winning the championship.

"It is well deserved, I think. When you look at the statistics, you cannot doubt that they are deserved champions," he insisted.