Bielefeld surprises Cup winner Stuttgart
“They didn’t play like a third division”
24.05.2025 – 11:05 p.m.Reading time: 3 min.
Arminia Bielefeld against VfB Stuttgart was considered a duel between David against Goliath before the game. Even if David left empty this time, Goliath paid respect to the outsider.
Christoph Kramer expressed what many spectators thought after the twelfth minute of the DFB Cup: “Probably-right-an entire club will ask: What if?” ZDF expert Kramer spoke about the great chance of Noah-Joel Sarenren Bazeee, who shot the ball on the crossbar from five meters. It would have been the 1-0 lead for outsiders Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB Cup final against VfB Stuttgart.
For Stuttgart, the slat shot Sarenren Bacees was an urgently needed wake -up call. As a result, the Swabians took over the game and turned the game upside down within 13 minutes with three goals. “We are lucky that we are not behind and then pulled the game on our side,” said coach Sebastian Hoeneß after the game at the ZDF microphone.
“In the second half we had the chance to make it and then thought it was too,” added Hoeneß. The 4: 0 by Enzo Millot in the 66th minute looked like the decision in the final. But that was not the case. At least Arminia Bielefeld came back in the 82nd and 85th minute with two goals.
“Everything is possible in this damn game, so I sweated again,” said Hoeneß. But in the end it was enough for the 4-2 win in the DFB Cup final. VfB Stuttgart won the title for the fourth time in its club history, for Hoeneß it was the first time. “There is a lot going on in me, I’m overjoyed,” said the visibly moving coach, who also spoke of “much empty”.
National player Maximilian Mittelstädt was similar. Born in Berlin, the DFB Cup won the DFB Cup for the first time in his life-and then also in the stadium of his home club Hertha BSC. “I’m ready. The emotions come up. I can’t put it in words to celebrate with our fans here. This is the most beautiful feeling that you can have, I think. I am overwhelmed,” said the left -back.
At the same time, he turned a few words to the opponent: “I would like to pronounce Arminia Bielefeld great respect – how you managed how you got back. You made it extremely difficult for us. They didn’t play like a third division. It was a worthy finale. I wish the boys from Bielefeld all the best.”
The East Westphalia were as a favorite fright through the DFB Cup, clubs such as SC Freiburg, Union Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen failed on the Bielefeld Alm. But the third division champion could not repeat the success in the Olympic Stadium. “Of course we are all disappointed, had hope to take the trophy home. There were ten or fifteen minutes in which we were not there – the opponent took advantage of this ice cold,” summarized coach Mitch Kniat.
The players still struggled with the mistakes that made the difference. “When I look at the faces of the boys, I sometimes see tears. Of course everyone is very disappointed,” said Kniat. Nevertheless, the trainer made it clear: “We can be very, very, very proud of the cup season and generally for the entire season.” Manager Michael Mutzel agreed: “I am incredibly proud of the team. We gave everything and didn’t give up. We played a brave football game.” And from next season, the Arminia is no longer a third division club. As a master, Bielefeld rose to the 2nd Bundesliga.