Atletico Madrid will attempt to secure a Champions League last-16 place against PSV Eindhoven but must overcome indifferent form and the absence of any fans from their Vicente Calderon stadium.

Atletico came within minutes of securing qualification in their previous match at Liverpool only to be denied by a controversial last-gasp penalty, but the Rojiblancos can banish the memory of that disappointment when they host PSV in unusual circumstances.

The match will be played behind closed doors following crowd incidents during Atletico's opening Group D match at home to Marseille, and defender Luis Perea admits it is not an experience he is looking forward to.

"I think that it's the worst punishment that they could give to a footballer," said the Colombian international.

"It will be strange to play without fans, I've already done it and it is not a good feeling.

"I'd prefer to play with all the fans against us than in an empty stadium. The fans are what make you a footballer and they show you their support when things are tough in games."

The good news for Atletico is they are in an extremely strong position in their group, lying joint-top with Liverpool on eight points and five ahead of Marseille and PSV with only two games remaining.

That means that even a draw might be enough for Javier Aguirre's side against PSV, providing Liverpool do not lose to Marseille in their clash at Anfield.

The bad news for Atletico is that they have struggled for consistency this season and, although they are currently on a nine-match unbeaten streak, they have only won three of those and at the weekend suffered an agonising 1-1 draw at lowly Numancia.

In almost identical circumstances to their 1-1 Champions League draw at Liverpool, Atletico looked to be heading for a three-point haul only to concede a debatable penalty deep into injury-time, which was converted to allow Numancia to claim a draw.

Perea, who conceded the spot-kick, admitted: "We left the pitch as if we had lost. We missed a great chance. Our plan was to record three or four consecutive wins."

Aguirre, who serves the second of his two-match touchline ban, could still be without defender Antonio Lopez but otherwise is set to have a strong squad to choose from.

PSV's ambitions are more modest having struggled during the European campaign so far, with Huub Stevens' side aiming to secure third place and the resulting UEFA Cup spot.

The recent 3-0 defeat at Marseille was a real blow and Stevens said: "We can now only focus on claiming the third place."

With PSV and Marseille level on three points - but with the French side edging the head-to-head record - the Dutch side are desperate to take something from the Calderon, with Stevens admitting the empty stadium will aid his side.

"It is an advantage that we have to play in Madrid behind close doors. The Spanish crowd of Atletico is very fanatic. I hope that Atletico will miss their fans."

PSV are still without Nordin Amrabat (groin), Jan Kromkamp (ankle) and Dirk Marcellis (hamstring).