Bielefeld is in the cup final for the first time. © ANSA / CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF

Cup sensation: Bielefeld knocks out Leverkusen

Hundreds of supporters of the huge underdog Arminia stormed the pitch after reaching the cup final for the first time. "Berlin, Berlin, we're going to Berlin," sang the majority of the 26.601 spectators, while the star ensemble of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen watched in amazement as the third-division team celebrated their cup triumph.

01 April 2025

From: dpa

"I'm just so proud of this team," said Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat after the sensational 2-1 (2-1) win on Tuesday evening. "Nobody in the city will be sleeping today," the coach announced. His team is in the DFB Cup final for the first time in the club's history thanks to goals from Marius Wörl (20th minute) and Maximilian Großer (45th+3).

This marks the first time since Union Berlin in 2001 that a third-division club has reached the final. "We didn't need any luck at all, because we were on the attack the whole time," Kniat rightly said. In Berlin, Arminia will play either VfB Stuttgart or RB Leipzig on May 24, who will face off in the second semifinal this Wednesday (20.45:XNUMX p.m.).

Leverkusen disappointed

Bayer 04, on the other hand, faces a title-less season after last year's double. "That was by far the worst game of the season," complained Leverkusen international Robert Andrich. "We made a lot of mistakes."

Leverkusen put in a weak performance. © ANSA / CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF

In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen is six points behind league leaders FC Bayern Munich. The Rhinelanders have already been eliminated from the Champions League. Without their injured superstar Florian Wirtz, Leverkusen lacked attacking prowess. Bayer seemed strangely uninspired and showed unusual inattention at the back. Only Jonathan Tah scored for the Werkself (17').