Shorthanded PSV holds on against Atletico

PSV Eindhoven held out with 10 men to leave its Champions League last-16 tie with Atletico Madrid finely balanced at 0-0 after the first leg on Wednesday.

Atletico had chances to kill the game before the half as Luciano Vietto and Antoine Griezmann missed one-on-ones against Jeroen Zoet.

The host played the final 20 minutes a man light when Gaston Pereiro was given a red card for a second bookable offense.

However, Atletico failed to take advantage, meaning all is to play for when the sides meet again on March 15 at Vicente Calderon stadium for a place in the last eight.

"From the start of the game we pressed them, played in their half and created chances," Atletico boss Diego Simeone told beIN Sports.

"In the second half we controlled the game and (Jan) Oblak didn't have a save to make, so I am very happy with the team."

Despite his side's struggles to score of late, Simeone is confident its excellent home record in Europe will see Atletico into the quarterfinals for a third consecutive year.

"I don't like to lie and I speak honestly. Playing at home (to decide the tie), how can I not be calm?" he said.

Vietto was handed the start ahead of Fernando Torres as Griezmann's strike partner and should have opened the scoring after just three minutes.

Gabi's long ball through the middle caught the PSV defense flat-footed and the Argentine lifted the ball over the advancing Zoet, but Jeffrey Bruma got back just in time to clear the ball off the line.

PSV had seen off Manchester United in the group stage to reach the last 16 for the first time in nine years and showed signs it could produce another upset during the first half.

The home fans and coach Phillip Cocu were furious when Juergen Locadia went down under Gabi's challenge inside the area, but referee Daniele Orsato was unmoved.

Atletico constantly found space in behind the Dutch champion's defense, and Koke was next to have a go at chipping the ball over Zoet but did not get enough on his effort to beat the keeper.

Griezmann then had the best chance of the game when he raced onto Koke's through ball to beat the offside trap, but Zoet rushed from his line to make a vital save at point-blank range.

PSV could have been in front before the break when Davy Propper shot straight at Oblak from close range after great work by Pereiro.

Chances were harder to come by in the second half as neither side ran the risk of conceding the winner.

Diego Godin had the ball in the net just after the hour mark, but his header from Koke's corner was rightly ruled out for a foul on Hector Moreno.

PSV was then forced to try and see out the final 20 minutes when Pereiro picked up an unnecessary second booking for a flying elbow on Godin.

Torres had been introduced just before the dismissal for Vietto in the search for an away goal, but he wasted Atletico's best chance against the 10 men as he blazed well over from Juanfran's intelligent cut-back.