Gruda scores against Eindhoven – Leipzig celebrates its first win

RB Leipzig can also rely on its home strength in the Champions League. 629 days after their last victory in the premier class, coach Martín Demichelis' team won 1-0 (0-0) against PSV Eindhoven. It was the first success in the league phase after the messed up start at Como (1:4). Brajan Gruda made the decision with a curling shot in the 75th minute.

“He has a lot of potential, the boy,” said national player Ridle Baku on DAZN about Gruda. He would be happy to show that in the next games, he added with a wink. Overall, according to Baku, it was a “deserved victory”. The people of Leipzig would now have to carry on like this. After the 6-0 win against Frankfurt, the Argentine RB coach Demichelis only brought Gruda into the starting line-up for Andrija Maksimovic after recovering from an abdominal muscle injury.

Baku tested ex-Leverkusen keeper Matej Kovar with a shot from close range (4th minute), on the other side RB goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt parried from a tight angle against Sven Mijnans (8th).

Then the Scottish referee Nicholas Walsh received information from his VAR colleague. According to his own view of the TV images, he gave a penalty because Baku had received the ball on the back of his outstretched arm during a header duel with Ruben van Bommel.

Leipzig became stronger and created good chances. After the substitution, Kovar (47th) prevented Leipzig from taking the lead again against Antonio Nusa. Gruda (75th) finally tried from a distance and was lucky. His shot from the edge of the penalty area was deflected by Perišić unstoppable for Kovar and landed in the corner to make it 1-0. PSV briefly celebrated the equalizer, but Obispo's goal (82') was disallowed due to offside.