La Liga to hold minute`s silence for Italy earthquake victims

Madrid: Games in Spain`s top two divisions will hold a minute`s silence before kick-off over the weekend for victims of the devastating earthquake in Italy.

"Professional football expresses its solidarity with all the Italian people and particularly with the families and friends of people who lost their lives in this natural disaster," the Spanish football league said in a statement.

At least 267 people died in Wednesday`s powerful pre-dawn earthquake that shook remote mountain villages in central Italy.

La Liga giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will be among those honouring the victims as they face Athletic Bilbao and Celta respectively.

In Italy too, all games this weekend will hold a minute`s silence and the football league has announced it will make "a significant donation" very soon.