Arminia Bielefeld, currently fourth in Germany’s third division, produced a major upset by defeating defending German Cup champions Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 on Tuesday night to reach the final of the competition. The victory marks a historic achievement, as Bielefeld become the first team from outside the top two divisions to eliminate four Bundesliga sides in a single German Cup campaign.
Leverkusen, currently second in the Bundesliga, took the lead in the 17th minute through defender Jonathan Tah. However, Bielefeld responded almost immediately, with Marius Wörl beating goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky with a low strike just three minutes later.
Maximilian Grosser completed the comeback for the home side before halftime, scoring with a close-range volley to send the Bielefeld supporters into raptures.
Bielefeld had previously knocked out Bundesliga teams Union Berlin, Freiburg, and Werder Bremen en route to the semi-finals. Their victory condemns Leverkusen to their first German Cup defeat under manager Xabi Alonso.
“We didn’t need luck at all because we were on the front foot the whole time,” Bielefeld manager Michel Kniat said after the match. He added that he would make an exception to his usual routine and have a drink with the players, declaring that “nobody will go to sleep in this city tonight.”
Bielefeld’s remarkable cup run comes after a difficult period for the club, which saw them relegated from the Bundesliga in 2022 and then from the second tier in 2023. They are only the fourth team from the third division to reach the German Cup final, following Union Berlin (2001), Energie Cottbus (1997), and Hertha Berlin’s reserve team (1993).
Arminia Bielefeld will face either VfB Stuttgart or RB Leipzig in the final, with the second semi-final scheduled for Wednesday, April 2nd.
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