Underdogs Arminia Bielefeld Defy Odds to Advance to First-Ever DFB-Pokal Final

Arminia Bielefeld made history by reaching their first-ever DFB-Pokal final, defeating reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the semifinal.

Third-tier Arminia Bielefeld pulled off a stunning upset, defeating reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to reach their first-ever DFB-Pokal final. This historic win at the Schuco Arena marked the culmination of an impressive run, with Bielefeld having already knocked out Bundesliga opposition in the previous three rounds.

Despite being the underdogs, Bielefeld demonstrated their capabilities, coming from behind to take the lead by halftime. Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah scored in the 17th minute, but Marius Woerl equalized just three minutes later. Maximilian Grosser then sealed the win for Bielefeld with a goal in first-half stoppage time. This remarkable victory sets the stage for Bielefeld's first-ever DFB-Pokal final appearance, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final match.

The match burst into life after a quiet opening 15 minutes when Jonathan Tah scored from close range, capitalizing on a corner that was flicked on at the near post. Tah was left unmarked, making it an easy tap-in for the Bayer Leverkusen player.

Arminia Bielefeld didn't let the setback faze them, and they quickly equalized through Marius Woerl's low-driven shot. This goal not only drew Bielefeld level but also tied Woerl with Patrik Schick as the top scorer in this season's DFB-Pokal.

Leverkusen's struggles continued as Noah Sarenren Bazee failed to capitalize on Piero Hincapie's hesitation, with Lukas Hradecky making a crucial save to deny the striker. However, Bielefeld seized the opportunity to take the lead just before halftime. Maximilian Grosser stole in front of Hincapie to score from Louis Oppie's free kick, sending the home fans into a frenzy.

As the second half got underway, Arminia Bielefeld was just 45 minutes away from making history and reaching their first-ever DFB-Pokal final. Despite Bayer Leverkusen introducing star striker Victor Boniface, the home side effectively contained their Bundesliga opponents.

Arminia Bielefeld unexpectedly dominated possession and controlled the match, limiting Leverkusen to no attempts on goal in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Joel Grodowski missed a golden opportunity to seal the win for Arminia, but the home side's defense remained solid.

Our cup journey ends at the semi-finals.

90+6' | 2-1 | #DSCB04 #DFBPokal pic.twitter.com/QdDUDJuj02

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) April 1, 2025

As the match drew to a close, Xabi Alonso side finally began to threaten, with Jonas Kersken making a crucial save to tip away Nordi Mukiele's header. Patrik Schick was the last player to test Arminia's nerves, but his header grazed the outside of the post, leaving it too late for Leverkusen to mount a comeback. Ultimately, Leverkusen underperformed and became the latest top-flight victim of Arminia's impressive run to the DFB-Pokal final.