Brajan Gruda scored in the 75th minute to give RB Leipzig a 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League, securing the club’s first win of the league phase 629 days after their previous success in the competition.
Gruda Breaks Deadlock in Leipzig
RB Leipzig relied on their home strength at the Red Bull Arena to overcome Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. Brajan Gruda settled the match with a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area that deflected off Ivan Perišić and sailed past goalkeeper Matej Kovar into the top corner. The strike ended a frustrating night for the hosts and marked their first three points in the current Champions League campaign following an opening 4-1 defeat away to Como.
Vandevoordt Denies Perišić from the Spot
The turning point of the first half arrived in the 19th minute when Scottish referee Nicholas Walsh awarded a penalty after a video assistant referee review. Defender Ridle Baku was judged to have handled the ball with his outstretched arm during an aerial duel with Ruben van Bommel. Veteran winger Ivan Perišić stepped up to take the spot-kick, driving his effort straight down the middle. Leipzig goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt reacted quickly, diving to one corner but managing to deflect the ball away with his trailing foot to keep the match scoreless.
Tactical Adjustments and Squad Impact
RB Leipzig coach Martín Demichelis made only one change to the starting lineup that defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 6-0 domestically, bringing Gruda back into the side after a prolonged recovery from an abdominal muscle injury. The attacking midfielder replaced Andrija Maksimovic. Following the final whistle, national teammate Ridle Baku praised the match-winner in an interview with DAZN. Baku noted that Gruda possesses massive potential, adding with a smile that the young forward should demonstrate those qualities consistently in upcoming fixtures.
Late Drama and Disallowed Equalizer
PSV almost rescued a point in the closing stages when Armando Obispo bundled the ball into the net during an 82nd-minute scramble. The visiting celebrations were cut short, however, as the linesman raised his flag for offside, a decision confirmed during subsequent checks. The narrow escape allowed Demichelis’s side to run out the remaining minutes and preserve their first clean sheet of the European season.
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