PSV's Champions League challenge remains tough after loss in Leipzig

PSV, despite a commendable away match at RB Leipzig that ended in a 1‑0 defeat, faces a tough task in the Champions League, conclude the Dutch morning newspapers after the Eindhoven side's visit to East Germany.

Match analysis

Clubwatcher Rik Elfrink of the Eindhovens Dagblad starts his report with the words: “A large part of the match seemed quite possible in Germany, but in the end the team of coach Peter Bosz was still disappointed.” He points out that PSV had the best chances, but a pure striker was missing.

Elfrink praises a standout: “It could have easily become Matej Kovář’s evening, last night in Leipzig.” The PSV goalkeeper delivered a spectacular performance for a long time, until a quarter of an hour before time a shot from Brajan Gruda went past him.

Standout Kovár: frustration after losing Champions League duel in Germany

Jeroen Kapteijns believes that a missed penalty has done PSV a disservice, while Ivan Perišić could not score from eleven meters in the first half. Guus Peters of De Volkskrant found PSV “very decent” and praised keeper Matej Kovář, who “sometimes wonderfully” kept the goal clean.

Peters stated that Gruda’s equaliser was not undeserved and looked ahead to the upcoming European ties. “Next week PSV will travel to FC Porto, while in the series of eight ties Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are also waiting.”