Former Juventus stars Michel Platini and Ian Rush teamed with thousands of Liverpool fans on Tuesday in an emotional ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium tragedy.

With Liverpool and Juventus facing each in the European Champions League quarterfinals, loud applause rang out around Anfield as the fans staged a brief ceremony as a mark of respect to the 39 fans who died. It was the first time the clubs met since the European Champions Cup final at Brussels, Belgium, on May 29, 1985, where rioting Liverpool fans caused a stampede that crushed many Italian fans.

When the players and fans were asked to stand in silence in memory of Pope John Paul II, who died on Saturday, Italian custom clashed with English expectations.

The Liverpool fans on the famous Kop end held up cards with the word "amicizia" - friendship - directed at the Juve fans at the other end of the ground. The Juve fans broke out into spontaneous applause, right in the middle of the minute's silence, and were roundly booed by the Liverpool followers as soon as the minute ended.

It is not uncommon, and customary for some Italians, to applaud during moments of silence, including at funerals.

Before the match - dubbed the "Game of Friendship" - Liverpool fans carried across the field to where the Juve followers were seated a banner bearing the first names of the 39 dead. The banner also had the words "memoria e amicizia" - in memory and friendship. Juventus fans wore armbands carrying the colors of the two teams - red for Liverpool and black and white for Juve.

Platini, Rush and former Liverpool star Phil Neal, who all played in that game, walked onto the field holding a plaque displaying the logos of the two teams. Platini scored the only goal for Juventus in that final.

"It's a big night for both clubs," Platini said. "The bad memories of that night will never go away but let's hope that tonight will help everyone make friends."

(Agencies)