Brajan Gruda scored a 75th-minute winner and goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt saved a first-half penalty from Ivan Perišić, lifting RB Leipzig to a 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven and securing their first win in the competition since January 2025.
RB Leipzig finally broke their long wait for a Champions League victory by grinding out a narrow win against PSV Eindhoven. Following disappointing results on Matchday 1, both sides entered the fixture eager to kickstart their European campaigns. Leipzig made just one change from their emphatic 6-0 domestic win against Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend, bringing Brajan Gruda back into the starting lineup. PSV made three changes from their own winning domestic XI, introducing three former Bundesliga players—Leipzig loanee Lutsharel Geertruida, Ivan Perišić, and Filip Kostić—all coming into the team.
Maarten Vandevoordt Denies Ivan Perišić From the Spot
The match turned early on when PSV threatened to take control in the first half. 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 Mauro Júnior later won a free kick on the left wing following a foul by Willi Orbán. Ayoni Santos also fired a right-footed shot from outside the box that sailed too high following a corner.
In the 18th minute, PSV were awarded a penalty after Baku’s arm made contact with the ball from a deep cross. Perišić stepped up to take the spot kick, but Vandevoordt stretched out his legs to block the effort, keeping the scores level and preserving momentum for the hosts. Antonio Nusa curled a shot narrowly wide for Leipzig shortly after, while PSV continued to threaten through Ruben van Bommel.
Leipzig finished the opening period strongly as Gruda began testing the PSV defense. Vandevoordt was Leipzig’s hero in the opening 45 minutes as his penalty save kept the scores level at 0-0.
Brajan Gruda Breaks the Deadlock in the Second Half
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. Later in the half, substitute Yarek Gasiorowski replaced Filip Kostić, Ryan Flamingo replaced Lutsharel Geertruida, and Rocco Reitz replaced Brajan Gruda. Lukas Klostermann also came on to replace Ezechiel Banzuzi, and Nicolas Seiwald replaced Ridle Baku.
Another header from Obispo in the center of the box was blocked following a cross by Ayoni Santos, and a subsequent header from Obispo missed to the right after an assist from Ivan Perisic following a corner. PSV continued to put pressure on through a string of late corners conceded by Willi Orbán and David Raum, but Leipzig held out to grab a vital three points.
Following this fixture, 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.
