Arminia Bielefeld has just done the surprise of the season
Arminia Bielefeld has just done the surprise of the season as they have defeated Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal semi-final and will play in the final against Leipzig or Stuttgart.
Bielefeld is currently ranked 4th in the third division of the German League
Bielefeld is currently ranked 4th in the third division of the German League but have eliminated four Bundesliga teams in consecutive rounds in the competition.
They have already beaten Union Berlin, Freiburg and Werder Bremen before their victory over the reigning Bundesliga champions.
Marius Worl pounced on a loose ball
Leverkusen appeared in control early when Jonathan Tah volleyed home Amine Adli’s 17th-minute corner at the back post. Bielefeld, however, refused to buckle. Marius Worl pounced on a loose ball just three minutes later, slotting calmly past goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky to level the match.
The underdogs struck again on the stroke of halftime. Louis Oppie’s whipped free kick found Maximilian Grosser at the far post, whose clinical volley sent the home crowd into raptures. Leverkusen introduced forwards Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick after the break but struggled to break down a resolute Bielefeld defense. Goalkeeper Jonas Kersken preserved the lead with a fingertip save to deny Boniface’s header, while Schick’s late effort agonizingly grazed the post.
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They are the fourth team from the third division to reach the German Cup final
They are the fourth team from the third division to reach the German Cup final, following Union Berlin in 2001, Energie Cottbus in 1997 and Hertha Berlin’s reserve team in 1993.
“We didn’t need luck at all because we were on the front foot the whole time,” Bielefeld boss Michel Kniat said.
Kniat said he “normally wouldn’t have a drink with the players, but tonight I’ll make an exception”, adding that “nobody will go to sleep in this city tonight”.
🚨🇩🇪 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | 3rd division side Arminia Bielefeld BEAT Bayer Leverkusen to make the DFB Pokal final! 🏆✨
They'll play Stuttgart or RB Leipzig in the final…
If they win the final, they'll earn automatic qualification for the 2025-26 Europa League! Wow. 😳🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/Flh8pm4rXB
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 1, 2025
Bielefeld they dropped down to the third tier after losing a relegation play-off
Bielefeld returned to the Bundesliga in 2020 after an 11-year absence, but they were relegated two seasons later and, in 2023, they dropped down to the third tier after losing a relegation play-off.
Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich said it was “by far our worst game of the season” and added that “Bielefeld deserved the win tonight, which means we did plenty of things wrong”.
Leverkusen coach Alonso came into the game having never lost in 10 matches in the competition and needed just one more victory to beat Louis van Gaal’s all-time record set as Bayern Munich manager.
