Third-tier Arminia Bielefeld pulled off a major surprise by defeating defending champions Bayer Leverkusen 2-1, securing their place in the German Cup final. This victory makes them the first team from outside Germany’s top two divisions to eliminate four Bundesliga clubs in a single tournament.
Leverkusen took an early lead in the 17th minute when Jonathan Tah found the net. However, their advantage was short-lived, as Marius Worl responded just three minutes later with a precise finish past goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky. Bielefeld completed their comeback before halftime when Maximilian Grosser converted a close-range volley.
Historic cup run
Before stunning Leverkusen, Bielefeld had already knocked out Union Berlin, Freiburg, and Werder Bremen. Their achievement puts them in an exclusive group of third-division clubs to reach the final, following in the footsteps of Union Berlin in 2001, Energie Cottbus in 1997, and Hertha Berlin’s reserve squad in 1993.
This success comes after a turbulent period for Bielefeld. The club, which earned Bundesliga promotion in 2020 after more than a decade away, suffered relegation two years later and then dropped to the third tier in 2023 following a play-off defeat.
Celebrations and next challenge
Bielefeld manager Michel Kniat expressed his pride in the team’s performance, stating that their win was fully deserved. “We were on the front foot the whole time, so we didn’t need luck,” he said. Kniat also shared that he would break his usual rule and join the players in celebrating, predicting that the entire city would stay awake to enjoy the historic moment.
With a place in the final secured, Bielefeld now awaits the winner of the other semi-final clash between Bundesliga sides Stuttgart and RB Leipzig.
