Belgium v Italy - Heysel Remembered

Friday's friendly between Belgium and Italy will be used to commemorate the victims of the Heysel Stadium tragedy, shortly after the 30th anniversary.

The match is being played at the King Baudouin Stadium, which is the rebuilt Heysel Stadium, where 39 people - mostly Italians - died during fan violence at the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus on May 29, 1985.

A shirt was laid along with flowers to honour the 39 who died

There was a ceremony before Thursday's training session to retire Italy's No. 39 shirt in memory of the victims, and during the match itself play will be stopped after 39 minutes for a period of reflection.

Prior to to kick-off, both teams will hold up a commemorative banner.

Yesterday's ceremony drew an emotional response from the Italy players, with Gianluigi Buffon in particular overwhelmed by the occasion.

Both Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini laid flowers at the memorial to the victims of the disaster, which saw a stadium wall collapse after crowd trouble between the two sets of supporters.

In total, the tragic incident claimed the lives of 39 fans and left another 600 injured.

Giorgio Chiellini presented a bouquet of flowers

At the memorial service, members of the Azzurri's Juventus contingent Andrea Barzagli Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio looked solemn as they remembered those supporters who lost their lives.

The friendly itself kicks off at 7.45pm this evening, and Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has admitted he wants to experiment with some players, including rightback Luis Pedro Cavanda of Trabzonspor.

Juventus players Andrea Barzagli Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio remember those who lost their lives

"Players will have a chance to show themselves," Wilmots said. "We will be rotating."

Friday's game would have been a highlight for Napoli's Dries Mertens but he was out after tearing a right thigh muscle this week.

Captain Vincent Kompany is also out of both games as he is troubled by a calf injury and, after already angering Manchester City by fielding him last month at the end of an injury spell, Wilmots is looking to keep risks to a minimum.

"I don't want to overexert him, also out of respect for Manchester City," Wilmots said. "We have enough other options."

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OSM - Curious Case of Sami Khedira

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Atletico Hit Four Past Real Madrid

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Atletico Madrid were in dreamland as they destroyed rivals Real Madrid with a thumping 4-0 win which blew the Primera Division title race wide open.

Tiago Mendes opened the scoring for the champions at a raucous Vicente Calderon after 13 minutes and substitute Saul Niguez doubled the lead with an acrobatic goal just moments after replacing Koke.

Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic added to the goal glut in the second half to leave stunned Real thoroughly humiliated.

The win saw Atletico cut the gap to league leaders Real to four points and gave Barcelona the chance to close it to just one if they win at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

This was the sixth meeting between the two clubs from the Spanish capital this season, with Real not managing to beat their derby rivals since winning the Champions League final last May.

Ancelotti was without four key starters due to injuries to Sergio Ramos, Pepe and James Rodriguez and Marcelo's suspension, but the Italian was able to recall the league's top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo after a two-match ban.

Despite having their first choice front three available, the unfamiliar centre-back pairing of Nacho and Raphael Varane left Real badly exposed at the back, while Fabio Coentrao and Sami Khedira, who had only started two league games each this season before today, did not help matters.

The Portuguese left-back nearly got his side into trouble in the opening minutes by sending Arda Turan to the ground in the area, but the referee waved play on.

A few moments later the defender was powerless to stop Juanfran getting to the byline and finding Mandzukic in the area. The Croatian controlled the ball with his chest and laid it off for Tiago to drive at goal, the ball slipping through the hands of Iker Casillas and over the line.

Despite witnessing a revival in fortunes against their rivals, the Calderon had yet to experience a league win over Madrid in the 21st century. Now the home fans smelled blood and bayed for more.

Guilherme Siqueira eased his way down the left wing to the byline and chipped the ball towards the far post, where Saul conjured an acrobatic scissor-kick which went off the near post and into the net.

Griezmann could have made it 3-0 midway through the first half, but on this occasion Casillas made the save.

Real were mere spectators to the Atletico onslaught and needed half-an-hour before their first incursion into their opponents box, but Toni Kroos' low shot was booted away by Miranda. Real could only manage one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

Los Blancos were also fortunate not to concede a penalty towards the end of the half when Khedira appeared to block a shot by Juanfran with his hand in the area, but again the referee stood firm.

Atletico continued their dominance in the second half and could have extended their lead through Griezmann, who hit an overhead-kick on to the roof of the net, and Tiago, who could only send a free header straight at Casillas.

However, the third goal eventually arrived on 66 minutes. Arda spread the play to Saul at the far post and the midfielder headed the ball across goal and Griezmann stuck out a leg to poke it in.

But Madrid's misery was still not complete.

With one minute remaining substitute Fernando Torres careered down the right wing and crossed for Mandzukic to head in goal number four and crown Atletico's heaviest defeat of their rivals since 1987.

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Barcelona Win Real Battle

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Goals from Brazilian Neymar and Chilean International Alexis Sanchez at the Camp Now gave Barcelona victory over Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of this season, sending them six points clear of their fierce rivals at the top of the Primera Division.

The Brazilian opened the scoring in the 18th minute and then provided substitute Alexis with a pass which the Chilean subsequently lobbed over Diego Lopez to finish off the visitors with 12 minutes remaining.

Twenty-year-old Jese got a goal back for Madrid in stoppage time, but there was not enough time left for an equaliser.

The hosts dominated the play in the first half, up against an experimental Madrid side which included defender Sergio Ramos playing as a third holding midfielder and Cristiano Ronaldo starting as a centre-forward, with Karim Benzema and Isco left on the bench.

Gareth Bale made his second start for Real Madrid but was unable to influence the game and had a frustrating evening, only managing two long-range shots which missed the target, and then picking up a yellow card for a producing a high foot during a challenge with Gerard Pique. Before the game the home fans held aloft a huge mosaic with a supporting message for former coach Tito Vilanova, who was forced to resign in the summer to continue with cancer treatment. Barca started stronger with Andres Iniesta controlling their play but they did not create many clear chances until Neymar broke the deadlock on 18 minutes.

Sergio Busquets played in Iniesta, who marauded towards goal and then gave the ball to Neymar on the left-hand side of the penalty area. The Brazilian beat two defenders then shot, the ball deflecting off Dani Carvajal and beyond the reach of Diego Lopez.

Barca could have get a second goal a couple of minutes later, Lionel Messi racing down the right before shooting a few feet wide of the far post with his left foot. Madrid were without shape and without ideas. Their only attempts on goal were long-range efforts from Ronaldo and Bale which were never going on target, although Los Blancos thought they could have had a penalty just before the break.

Ronaldo put in a cross towards Sami Khedira from the left-hand side and Victor Valdes came out to gather but could not keep control of the ball, which may have struck the hand of Barcelona defender Adriano before the goalkeeper collected it again.

Neymar had a chance to double the lead 10 minutes after the break, half-volleying a long ball from Iniesta, but Lopez made the save. Ramos was withdrawn early in the second half after proving ineffective in his unfamiliar role in midfield and was replaced by Asier Illarramendi, who Madrid signed from Real Sociedad in the summer for 32million euros (£27 million).

Madrid's play improved considerably after the Basque player came on, and a couple of minutes later, created their best chance of the game. Khedira recovered the ball, Luka Modric played in Ronaldo and the Portuguese's early shot was turned round the post by Valdes.

From the corner, Angel Di Maria tried his luck from outside the area but Valdes was equal to it. Benzema replaced Bale with half an hour left and from then on Madrid had more shape. The Frenchman headed over minutes after coming on and then struck the bar with an effort from outside the area. Ronaldo was denied a penalty after going down following a challenge from Javier Mascherano, and the Madrid bench fiercely contested the decision. Madrid were looking much likelier to score but a moment of genius from Alexis killed off the game.

The Chilean, who had replaced Fabregas, ran onto a through ball from Neymar. Varane caught up with him but the forward turned around and then released a sublime chip which soared over the outstretched arm of Lopez and dropped into the net.

Dani Alves could have added a third with seven minutes remaining as he approached goal alone, but Lopez stuck out a foot to deny him. Khedira found himself one-on-one with Valdes late on, but shot straight into the goalkeeper's arms. Jese, who had replaced Di Maria, salvaged some pride for Madrid by scoring from a Madrid counter, receiving a low cross from Ronaldo and then striking beyond Valdes, who could have done better. 

Dani Alves had one final chance to score in the dying seconds, but his shot was blocked.

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Ancelotti Starts with Real Win

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Carlo Ancelotti's first match in charge of Real Madrid saw them stroll to a stylish 6-0 win over Championship Bournemouth at Dean Court.

Cristiano Ronaldo netted the first goal of the Italian's reign and added another before Sami Khedira scored on the stroke of half-time.

Bournemouth, whose chairman Eddie Mitchell said this fixture was a reward for their long-suffering support, failed to provide a goal for them to cheer as Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria and then Casemiro got in on the act.

Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho's replacement, included new signing Isco in his line-up and there was certainly enough household names in his first Madrid XI to keep the capacity crowd, many of whom had paid £60 and queued overnight for their ticket, happy.

And it took the most stellar name of all just seven minutes to almost make his mark with one of Ronaldo's trademark free-kicks whistling past the top corner in a climate more typical of the Bernabeu than Boscombe.

Bournemouth did have their moments early on with two January additions Ryan Fraser and Brett Pitman combining. The latter saw his low drive deflected wide after a mazy run from Fraser before Pitman's audacious chip fell just off target.

Cheered by all four sides of the ground throughout, Ronaldo, the world's most expensive footballer, was clearly enjoying himself as he showcased his repertoire of flicks and tricks. One backheel forced Darryl Flahavan into a smart stop and another teed up Karim Benzema who was denied by the goalkeeper.

It was no surprise then to see Ronaldo break the deadlock just after the half hour mark. Once the visitors were awarded a free-kick 30 yards from goal there was only going to be one taker and the Portuguese curled a trademark dipping effort into the bottom corner.

While the nine-time European Cup winners spent £34 million this summer on substitute Asier Illarramendi, one of Eddie Howe's new acquisitions Elliott Ward, snapped up after leaving Norwich, was also benched. But the centre-back was soon sent on for striker Pitman as the former Burnley boss looked to stem the tide.

Madrid began to up the ante and only a top-draw tackle from Welsh midfielder Shaun McDonald denied Ronaldo just as he wound up his famous right-foot having cut inside. But Ronaldo would not be denied and a minute later he grabbed his second, rounding Flahavan and rolling the ball home after breaking the Cherries' offside trap.

On the stroke of half-time it was three when Khedira converted fellow countryman Ozil's corner, despite the best attempts of MacDonald on the line.

And with the first attack of the second half in-demand striker Higuain made it four just two minutes after his introduction. The Argentinian found the bottom corner with typical accuracy when one-on-one. He was only denied a second shortly after by a fine stop from Flahavan to keep out his powerful drive.

Fellow half-time substitute Kaka came within a lick of paint from adding his name to the scoresheet when his splendid curling effort crashed back off the crossbar.

Another replacement Di Maria added a fifth after weaving his way through a sea of Cherries players and with seven minutes to go Brazilian Casemiro started and finished a fine passing move.

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