RB Leipzig 1-0 PSV Eindhoven: Gruda’s second-half strike earns German side first Champions League win
RB Leipzig secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, October 13, 2026, thanks to Brajan Gruda’s decisive second-half goal.
The German side endured a tense encounter at home before Gruda broke the deadlock in the 75th minute, handing Leipzig their first victory in this season’s Champions League league phase.
The match began at a lively pace, with both teams creating opportunities but struggling to find the breakthrough. Leipzig goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt proved instrumental, keeping his side in the contest after saving Ivan Perisic’s penalty in the 19th minute.
PSV also threatened on several occasions, but Leipzig’s defensive resilience and goalkeeping ensured the visitors went into the break without a goal.
After the restart, both sides continued to search for an opener, with PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovar making important saves to deny Leipzig’s attacking players.
However, the hosts finally found the breakthrough in the 75th minute when Gruda collected the ball after PSV failed to clear a corner effectively. The Leipzig attacker controlled the ball before unleashing a left-footed effort from outside the penalty area that took a deflection and found the back of the net.
PSV pushed forward in the closing stages in search of an equaliser, putting the Leipzig defence under pressure with crosses and set pieces. The visitors briefly thought they had levelled the score through Armando Obispo, but the effort was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Leipzig held firm through the final minutes to claim all three points, while PSV were left frustrated after failing to convert their opportunities.
The victory provides a significant boost for Leipzig following their 4-1 defeat to Como in their opening league-phase fixture. PSV, meanwhile, remain without a win after drawing their opening match against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Leipzig will now turn their attention to a demanding trip to Real Madrid in their next Champions League fixture, while PSV prepare for their upcoming European assignment against FC Porto.
