Atletico Madrid entertains PSV Eindhoven in front of a virtually empty
Vicente Calderon Stadium this night in the Champions League.
Atletico has to serve a UEFA punishment of playing the game without
supporters in the ground following crowd incidents in their opening Champions
League group game back in September.
Each side is allowed just 75 people in the ground, including players and
coaches and the only other witnesses will be the accredited journalists covering
the match for their respective media.
Atletico Madrid defender Luis Perea believes that UEFA has imposed the worst
possible punishment on his side.
"I don't think they could have done anything worse for a footballer. It will
be very odd to play without any people in the ground. I have done it once and it
is a really bad feeling," he told the Atletico Madrid website.
"I would rather have to play in a ground with all of the fans against us than
in an empty stadium. The supporters are what makes you feel as if you are a
footballer and their support can be a great help when things are going against
you in a game," he said.
However, with Atletico on top of Group D, level on eight points with
Liverpool, Perea knows that a win over PSV, who are bottom of the group, would
not only qualify his side for the next phase, but also give them a good chance
of finishing as group winners.
"We know that we have to win to assure our place in the next round of the
competition," he added.
Following a disappointing 1-1 draw against struggling Numancia last Sunday,
Atletico coach Javier Aguirre was once again criticized for his conservative
tactics.
The only player missing is the injured Antonio Lopez and Aguirre is almost
certain to start with an attacking quartet of strikers Diego Forlan and Sergio
Aguero, supported by wingers Simao Sabrosa and Maxi Rodriguez.