Arminia Bielefeld has reached the semi -finals of the DFB Cup – as a third division. It’s a surprise, maybe a sensation. It is not a premiere. About Bielefeld jubilation, the peculiarities of the trophy and small clubs, the great surprise.
For someone who is a third division coach, Mitch Kniat has an astonishing balance. Kniat has led six DFB cup games as coach Bielefeld since summer 2023, and Arminia won five times. With Werder Bremen, she just thrown the third first division team out of the trophy. She won 2: 1 (2: 0).
This leads to an interesting constellation: Bayern are not there in the semi -finals, and BVB is also missing. Bielefeld plays along.
Arminia Bielefeld and the DFB Cup-this is a success story this season. She has some faces. Football fans who do not come from East Westphalia are getting to know: Marius Wörl, 20, is one of them. He ran a lot against Bremen, often he went right. The ball also obeys him against first division teams. It was also to be observed when he hit the lead with a fine shot in the long corner. The sports show said Wörl: “I can’t believe that yet.”
His trainer Kniat had fewer problems. He is a different face of a Bielefeld success story. “Cup can be this team. She is always good for special achievements”said Kniat, 39, the sports show.“You saw that today.”
Mareike Zeck, Sportschau, February 26, 2025 07:41 a.m.
With cup sensations you know your way around in Bielefeld
When Wörl scored the lead, coach Kniat could also be seen on television. Of course he cheered. At some point the cameras caught one in the stands who ended his career last summer, but will remain unforgettable in Bielefeld: Fabian Klos, 37, played for Arminia 13 years, he scored 463 games and scored 180 goals, got three times and three times.
He was there when Bielefeld had a surprise in the DFB Cup, maybe even a sensation. In the 2014/15 season, Klos was captain of the third division club Arminia Bielefeld, who defeated Hertha BSC, Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach in the trophy in the trophy, before the semi -finals were against VfL Wolfsburg.
Bielefeld is the eighth third division club in the cup semi-final
The DFB Cup has its own laws, you sometimes read. It is then about stories about outsiders who annoy favorites. Some outsiders succeed once, there are less frequent surprises in series, just as Bielefeld has now succeeded for the second time. However, reaching the semi -finals is not a unique selling point for a third division club.
The surprise of the DFB Cup season came from Saarland last season. The 1. FC Saarbrücken not only annoyed Bavaria, he also threw Gladbach and Frankfurt out. The end was only in the semi -finals, since against the second division club 1. FC Kaiserlslautern.
In the DFB Cup, not only Bielefeld and Saarbrücken were surprised. In the history of the competition, eight clubs that played in the third highest division at the time made it to the semi -finals. In addition to Saabrücken and Bielefeld, the: Kickers Offenbach (1989/90), Hertha BSC II (1992/93), Energie Cottbus (1996/97), Eintracht Trier (1997/98), Union Berlin (2000/01) and FC St. Pauli (2005/06). The Arminia is now the first third division team to do it for the second time.
It could be Stuttgart weeks for Arminia
In the semi -finals, Bielefeld will meet a first division club again on April 1st or April 2. The draw will take place on Sunday (02.03.2025) from 6.45 p.m. as part of the sports show. A possible opponent for the Arminia would be Bayer Leverkusen, the master and cup winner. Another of VfB Stuttgart, in the past runner -up before Bavaria. Bielefeld could also meet the winner of the game RB Leipzig-VfL Wolfsburg, which will take place this evening (from 8:45 p.m. in the live ticker and in the radio report).
You will follow the draw in Bielefeld with some interest. However, they will not be able to deal with it for a long time. Everyday life is waiting in the 3rd league: At 7.30 p.m., the Arminia, who recently annoyed the big ones in the cup, plays in his own stadium against the rather small VfB Stuttgart II. The first leg has surprisingly lost 0: 3.