Brajan Gruda strike gets RB Leipzig off the mark against PSV Eindhoven
RB Leipzig edged to a narrow UEFA Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven thanks to Brajan Gruda's strike and Maarten Vandevoordt's penalty save from Ivan Perišić.
RB Leipzig 1-0 PSVGoals: 1-0 Gruda 75’Missed pen: Perišić 19’
Off the back of disappointing results on Matchday 1, both RB Leipzig and PSV were keen to get their first win of the Champions League campaign on the board.
Leipzig made just one change from their emphatic 6-0 domestic win against Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend, with Gruda returning to the starting line-up, while PSV made three changes from their own winning domestic XI as three former Bundesliga players - Leipzig loanee Lutsharel Geertruida, Ivan Perišić and Filip Kostić - all came into the team.
Perišić denied from the spot
Leipzig created the first sight of goal in the opening five minutes when Ridle Baku's acrobatic volley from close range was well saved by Matěj Kovář.
PSV grew into the game and were awarded a penalty in the 18th minute after Baku's arm made contact with the ball from a deep cross. Perišić stepped up but saw his effort saved by the outstretched legs of Vandevoordt.
Antonio Nusa curled a shot narrowly wide for Leipzig shortly after, while PSV continued to threaten through Ruben van Bommel.
Leipzig finished the half strongly as Gruda caused the PSV defence problems. One mazy run late on saw him tee up Neil El Aynaoui, though the midfielder's effort flew well over the bar.
Gruda breaks the deadlock
The second half continued in similar fashion, with Nusa forcing a smart save from Kovář early on and Sven Mijnans missing a good chance for PSV from close range. Vandevoordt produced further saves to deny Kostić and Sergiño Dest, while Kovář responded with a double save to repel Gruda and Willi Orbán on the hour mark.
The decisive moment arrived in the 75th minute: a Leipzig corner was headed clear only as far as Gruda, who beat a man on the edge of the box and curled a shot that found the far corner via a slight deflection, giving Leipzig the lead.
PSV then briefly thought they had equalised when Armando Obispo headed home from a Van Bommel cross, only for the flag to go up. PSV continued to put pressure on through a string of late corners, but Leipzig held out to grab a vital three points.
Leipzig are next in action against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, before travelling to Real Madrid in their next Champions League fixture on 21 October.
