Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich produced a superb display to keep his side's UEFA Cup dream alive, restricting Atletico Madrid to a one-goal advantage in the quarter-final, first leg tie.

The Australian, only beaten in the Calderon Stadium by a 41st minute penalty from Italian striker Christian Vieri, produced a string of magnificent saves in the opening half.

Atletico threatened to over-run Villa in the opening 45 minutes and carved out a host of chances - but Bosnich proved unbeatable until Vieri converted his spotkick.

It was a different story in the second half as Villa, bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history, visibly grew in belief that they could earn tangible reward from the tie.

They tightened up considerably at the back to such an extent that Bosnich did not have to make a save worthwhile of the name in the second 45 minutes.

But they also looked threatening going forward with substitute Julian Joachim a constant threat to the Atletico defence.

Wing-back Simon Grayson and midfielder Ian Taylor were also influential figures as Villa earned themselves the chance to try and succeed where Leicester failed, in the second leg on March 17.

New Villa manager John Gregory brought in the fit-again midfielder Mark Draper for striker Julian Joachim in the only change from the side which defeated Liverpool on Saturday.

Villa switched from a 3-4-3 to a more defensive-minded 3-5-2 system but they were under siege in the opening 45 minutes.

Vieri, the Spanish League's joint leading scorer with 15 goals, got behind the Villa defence as early as the second minute to force Bosnich into a fine save low to his left - and that set the pattern for the rest of the half.

The Italian was able to find space in the penalty area almost at will as the Villa rearguard were unable to deal with a series of penetrating through balls aimed at the £12million striker.

But Gregory's side finally broke out and in the 26th minute they missed a golden opportunity to take the lead against the run of play.

Yorke and Collymore combined to find Lee Hendrie in space on the edge of the area, but after taking a couple of strides forward, he drilled his shot over the bar.

It proved to be only a temporary reprieve from the siege on the Villa goal and Bosnich was soon back in action to tip over a fiercely struck effort from Carlos Aguilera.

Vieri got free of the Villa rearguard to screw a shot across the face of goal and then the Australian smothered a close-range effort from Jose Mari Romero after he had turned sharply in the area.

But four minutes before the interval Atletico's pressure finally paid off. Bosnich produced another splendid save to keep out Andrei Frascarelli's downward header but in the melee that followed Jose Luis Caminero was brought down by Ian Taylor.

The inspirational Bosnich even got his hand to Vieri's spotkick but could only deflect it into the roof of the net.

Villa lost the services of Collymore with a foot injury after 50 minutes but it meant a first taste of European football for Julian Joachim.

Villa grew in confidence after their first half battering and created three clear-cut openings in the space of five minutes.

Hendrie brought down a centre from Alan Wright to find himself clear in the area but he needed an extra touch which proved fateful as he was crowded out.

Joachim then looked certain to score after being picked out by Yorke at the far post but Atletico keeper Francisco Molina was somehow able to block his shot.

Then Ugo Ehiogu headed a Mark Draper freekick wide when unmarked and little was seen of the home attack which had threatened to run riot in the opening period.

Teams:

Atletico Madrid: Molina, Toni, Andrei, Santi, Vizcaino, Vieri, Pantic (Nimy 74), Jose Marie (Paunovic 60), Aguilera, Kiko, Caminero.

Subs Not Used: Fede, Futre, Geli, Diaz, Jaro.

Booked: Vieri, Aguilera.

Goals: Vieri 42 pen.

Aston Villa: Bosnich, Southgate, Ehiogu, Taylor, Draper, Yorke, Collymore (Joachim 50), Wright, Grayson, Hendrie, Scimeca (Staunton 41).

Subs Not Used: Charles, Nelson, Oakes, Collins, Davis.

Booked: Draper, Bosnich, Ehiogu, Hendrie.

Att: 45,000

Ref: S Braschi (Italy).