Leverkusen knocked out by third-tier Bielefeld!

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Bundesliga

·2 aprile 2025

Leverkusen knocked out by third-tier Bielefeld!

Holders Bayer Leverkusen knocked out as third-tier Arminia Bielefeld reach DFB Cup final

Bayer Leverkusen became the next victims of Arminia Bielefeld’s giant-killing DFB Cup campaign as the third-tier side came from behind to win 2-1 and book their place in the final.

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OneFootball Video

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

Bielefeld had knocked out Bundesliga teams Union Berlin (2-0), Freiburg (3-1) and Werder Bremen (2-1) in previous rounds to reach the last four, but there was a prevailing sense that Xabi Alonso’s defending cup holders would be a step too far for them. So when Jonathan Tah volleyed in an early opener from Amine Adli’s flick-on at a corner, the match appeared to be following a predictable script. Bielefeld had other ideas though, and equalised shortly afterwards when Marius Wörl reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the Leverkusen penalty area and curled a shot past Lukáš Hrádecký. Encouraged by that goal and roared on by their home crowd, Bielefeld should have gone in front a couple of minutes later when Noah Sarenren Bazee sprinted through one-on-one with Hrádecký, only this time the goalkeeper produced an astonishing save. The hosts did go into the break with a narrow advantage when Maximilian Großer volleyed in a devilish Louis Oppie free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

Alonso introduced Victor Boniface early in the second half as Leverkusen sought a way back into the game, but Bielefeld refused to buckle. They should even have gone two goals clear when Oppie found space on the left-hand byline and cut the ball back for Joel Grodowski, but he scuffed his shot from close to the penalty spot and the ball bobbled wide. It was no one-off either. The third-division outfit refused to sit back and just defend their lead, but continued to get forward and trouble the Bundesliga champions. Boniface had a header clawed away by goalkeeper Jonas Kerksen and Patrik Schick grazed the outside of the post with a header from Jeremie Frimpong’s pinpoint cross. That was as good as it got for Alonso's men, who pushed for a trademark late goal but were unable to find it against their dogged hosts, who deservedly secured a first-ever trip to the DFB Cup final.

Match stats

Arminia's Wörl has a competition-leading six goal involvements, scoring three and setting up three.
Bielefeld have never previously gone further than the semi-finals in the DFB Cup. They last reached the final four in 2004/05, where they lost to Bayern, and again in 2014/15, where they were pipped by Wolfsburg.
This was the first time Arminia have ever beaten Leverkusen in the cup, having previously been knocked out by them three times.
Schick is the competition’s top scorer so far this season, with four strikes in five games.
This was Alonso's first defeat as coach in the DFB Cup, previously winning all 10 ties.
Leverkusen had won the DFB Cup only once before last season, with their previous success falling in the 1992/93 campaign.

Teams

Bielefeld: Kersken - Schneider, Russo, Großer - Hagman, Schreck (Young 90'+3), Corboz (c), Oppie - Sarenren Bazee (Felix 90'+3), Wörl - Grodowski (Biankadi 83')Unused subs: Oppermann, Lannert, Kunze, Richter, Schroers, KaniaOut: Uldrikis (knee)Coach: Mitch Kniat

Leverkusen: Hrádecký - Mukiele, Tah (c), Hincapié - Xhaka, Andrich - Frimpong, Palacios (Boniface 53'), Adli (Tella 77'), Grimaldo - SchickUnused subs: Kovář, Hofmann, Arthur, Buendía, Sarco, García, NataliOut: Belocian (knee), Hermoso (shoulder), Tapsoba (muscular), Terrier (Achilles), Wirtz (ankle)Coach: Xabi AlonsoAs it happened!

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