Third-tier Arminia Bielefeld reach DFB-Pokal semi-finals

Third-tier Arminia Bielefeld stunned Bundesliga side Werder Bremen with a 2-1 victory to make the DFB-Pokal semi-finals.

Two first-half goals were enough for Arminia, who are fourth in the 3.Liga having suffered back-to-back relegations from the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga in 2021-22 and 2022-23, to continue their dream run.

The hosts of Tuesday’s quarter-final, who had already eliminated Union Berlin and Freiburg from the competition, went in front when Marius Woerl punished some loose Werder play with a curling strike after 35 minutes.

Werder were two goals down six minutes later when defender Julian Malatini tried to clear a cross but could only turn the ball into his own goal.

Ole Werner’s team cut the deficit in the 56th minute with Oliver Burke’s effort giving them hope, and they hit the crossbar in stoppage time through Amos Pieper’s header.

But Arminia clung on to join heavyweights Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart in the last four. RB Leipzig face Wolfsburg on Wednesday for the final semi-final spot.

4 – Arminia Bielefeld won their 4th DFB-Pokal tie against a Bundesliga team in a row without being a first or second division team, something no team had managed previously since the Bundesliga was founded in 1963-64. Upset. pic.twitter.com/COdnDPXOsL

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 25, 2025

Data Debrief: Arminia’s history makers

Wins over Union and Freiburg had already made this cup run a memorable one for Arminia, but Tuesday’s triumph ensured they made history.

They are now the first team from the third tier or lower to ever win four consecutive DFB-Pokal ties against Bundesliga teams since the competition was founded in 1963 – the first of those victories came against Bochum last season.

Arminia actually made the semi-finals as a third-tier club as recently as 2014-15, losing 4-0 to eventual champions Wolfsburg.