Atletico Madrid vs PSV Eindhoven - No fear for Andres Guardado and PSV Eindhoven

Posted Tuesday, March 15, 2016 by PA

PSV Eindhoven's Andres Guardado says his side will be motivated rather than frightened by the challenge facing them at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon fortress on Tuesday as they look to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Having been held to a goalless draw at home in the first leg of their last-16 tie last month, PSV are underdogs heading into the return meeting in the Spanish capital, where Atletico boast a formidable record.

Atletico have lost only twice in 27 European home games in front of their own fans while in their last 15 competitive games at the Calderon, Diego Simeone's men have recorded 12 wins and suffered only one defeat.

Add to that the fact that Atletico have won 10 of 12 European ties after drawing the first leg away from home down the years, and the size of the task facing PSV on Tuesday night is clear.

However, Mexico international Guardado, who has plenty of experience of facing Atletico having spent eight seasons in Spain with Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia, is looking forward to the test.

He told reporters on PSV's arrival at Madrid airport on Monday: "We know that it's complicated but we're hoping to get through.

"We're going to try to make things difficult for Atletico Madrid, a team who are fighting against two of the best sides in the world, not just Spain, in Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"But more than scaring us, it motivates us to play against an opponent like Atleti, at the Calderon with a special atmosphere."

PSV, who remained a point clear of Ajax in the Eredivisie despite being held to a 1-1 home draw by Heerenveen at the weekend, welcome back top scorer Luuk de Jong from suspension but are without Gaston Pereiro because of a ban.

Atletico, meanwhile, must do without Stefan Savic and Tiago through injury as they look to carry on from Saturday's impressive 3-0 win over Depor.

That result that helped keep the Rojiblancos eight points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona and the performance was described by midfielder Saul Niguez as one of their best of the season.

Fernando Torres missed that game with a knee injury but the experienced striker, whose contract with Atletico runs out in the summer but is in talks over a new one, may return against PSV.

He told www.abc.es: "I hope to be ready for Tuesday. The most important thing is to get through in the Champions League and all my thoughts are focused on that."