Bielefeld's DFB Cup journey | OneFootball

The story of Arminia Bielefeld's incredible journey to the 2024/25 DFB Cup final

For the first time in their history, Arminia Bielefeld will contest a DFB Cup final on 24 May at Berlin’s Olympiastadion when they face VfB Stuttgart. bundesliga.com takes a look at their run to the showpiece…

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Despite their 3. Liga status, Bielefeld have sensationally gone all the way to Berlin in the 2024/25 DFB Cup, becoming just the fourth club from the third tier to reach the final after Union Berlin, Energie Cottbus and Hertha Berlin II.

Having already secured promotion back to Bundesliga 2, Bielefeld could cap off a fantastic season with an unexpected victory in the capital. Stuttgart, who played in the UEFA Champions League this term after a second-place Bundesliga finish in 2024/25, will enter the game as overwhelming favourites, but Arminia have already done things the hard way to get this far…

Bielefeld have already earned promotion to Bundesliga 2. (IMAGO/Sven Leifer)

First round: Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 HannoverGoals: 1-0 Becker 13’ (assist: Wörl), 2-0 Oppie 22’ (assist: Mizuta)

Bielefeld’s journey started with Hannover's visit to their SchücoArena. They had enjoyed the perfect start to their 3. Liga season with back-to-back victories that gave them confidence ahead of their encounter with the Bundesliga 2 outfit.

On the day, they flew out of the blocks, scoring twice inside the opening 25 minutes through André Becker and Louis Oppie. In response, Hannover exerted pressure and had several chances, but they were unable to find a way past Jonas Kersken between the Bielefeld sticks.

It was a memorable occasion as they beat a team a division above, although Hannover would prove to be small fry in comparison to the opposition in the next few rounds.

Bielefeld were quick out of the blocks against Hannover in the first round. (Thomas F. Starke)

Second round: Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 Union BerlinGoals: 1-0 Wörl 12’, 2-0 Becker 71’ (assist: Wörl)

Next up to make the trip to Bielefeld were Bundesliga side Union Berlin. The hosts entered the match-up on the back of a five-game unbeaten streak, but the Iron Ones were themselves without defeat in three top-tier outings and were looking for another deep run in the competition after reaching the semi-finals in 2021/22.

Again, though, Bielefeld were quick off the mark, breaking the deadlock inside the opening quarter-hour through Marius Wörl. Union subsequently dominated possession, yet Kersken was once more impenetrable, and the home team secured the win in the second half courtesy of Becker.

André Becker (l.) was on the scoresheet against Union Berlin. (IMAGO/kolbert-press/Marc Niemeyer)

Third round: Arminia Bielefeld 3-1 FreiburgGoals: 1-0 Lannert 28’ (assist: Wörl), 2-0 Kania 36’ (pen.) 2-1 Gregoritsch 63’ (assist: Doan), 3-1 Oppie 81’ (assist: Corboz)

Bielefeld’s strong league form continued into the end of 2024, losing just one in nine games ahead of their clash with Freiburg. The Black Forest outfit, though, were in good form themselves, moving into the European qualification spots in Julian Schuster’s first season as head coach following Christian Streich’s legendary reign.

However, they could not tame Bielefeld, who continued their impressive run. They had to wait a comparative age for their first goal of the game as Christopher Lannert netted shortly prior to the half-hour mark, before top goalscorer Julian Kania converted from the penalty spot seven minutes later.

After the interval, Michael Gregoritsch pulled one back for Schuster and Co., but an Oppie stunner in the latter stages confirmed Freiburg’s exit from the tournament.

Freiburg were Bielefeld's opponents in the third round. (IMAGO/Noah Wedel)

Quarter-finals: Arminia Biefeleld 2-1 Werder BremenGoals: 1-0 Wörl 35‘, 2-0 Malatini 41‘ (o.g), 2-1 Burke 56‘ (assist: Bittencourt)

The final eight comprised six Bundesliga sides, one second-tier outfit and Bielefeld, making them rank outsiders. Still, their quarter-finals pitted them against Bremen, who had won just one of their past eight when they travelled to Arminia’s home, losing their last match 5-0 to Bielefeld’s third-round opponents, Freiburg.

After an indifferent run of form themselves, two consecutive wins put the cup-setters in good stead, and they were soon back to their giant-killing best. Another superb effort, this time from the talismanic Wörl, put Bielefeld’s noses in front, before Julián Malatini’s own goal extended their advantage further.

Oliver Burke pulled one back after the break, but the expected onslaught thereafter never materialised – the Scotland international’s strike was the only one the Werderaner managed to get on target. On the balance of play, this was one of Bielefeld’s most comfortable triumphs of the tournament as they continued their unlikely quest for glory.

Werder Bremen were Bielefeld's third consecutive Bundesliga opponents. (IMAGO/Noah Wedel)

Semi-finals: Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 Bayer LeverkusenGoals: 0-1 Tah 17‘ (assist: Adli), 1-1 Wörl 20’ 2-1 Großer 45‘+3 (assist: Oppie)

The last four threw up Bielefeld’s toughest test yet, and arguably the worst opponent they could have wished for in reigning Bundesliga and Cup champions Leverkusen. The Werkself had been unable to match the heights of their incredible 2023/24 term, but they remained in a title fight with Bayern Munich and were favourites to progress to defend their domestic cup trophy.

By this point, though, Bielefeld were on a charge for promotion and were buoyed by their previous shock wins. They fell behind for the first time in the competition as Jonathan Tah headed home from close range, but they recovered immediately through Wörl – who else? – to restore parity.

Just before half-time, Maximilian Großer prodded home from inside the area for what proved to be the decisive goal. Untypically for them, Leverkusen were somewhat toothless in response, with Patrik Schick’s attempt against the post their only real sight of goal.

Bielefeld, meanwhile, could have wrapped things up at the other end, wasting two gilt-edged chances late on. Their wastefulness ultimately didn’t matter, though, as they saw the game out to book their trip to Berlin, sending the home crowd into raptures.

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