Third-tier Bielefeld upsets defending champions Leverkusen in the German Cup.

BIELEFELD, April 2, 2025, Germany: Defending German Cup champions Bayer Leverkusen were unexpectedly eliminated 2-1 by Arminia Bielefeld in the semifinals on Tuesday.

Xabi Alonso’s team, heavily favored to reach a second consecutive final, were outplayed by their underdog opponents from start to finish. Jonathan Tah's 17th-minute opener was quickly equalized by Marius Woerl for the hosts just three minutes later. Maximilian Grosser’s goal in first-half stoppage time proved to be the decisive moment for Bielefeld, who have now defeated four top-tier teams on their way to the final.

Bielefeld, who have never reached a German Cup final, became only the fourth third-division club to reach the prestigious event. If they win in Berlin in May, where they will face either RB Leipzig or Stuttgart, they will secure a Europa League spot for the next season.

Bielefeld’s coach Michel Kniat remarked, “We didn’t need any luck, as we were the dominant team throughout.” He added that he “normally wouldn’t share a drink with the players, but tonight I’ll make an exception,” and quipped, “Nobody in this city will be sleeping tonight.”

Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich admitted, “This was by far our worst game of the season,” acknowledging that “Bielefeld deserved the win, which shows we made plenty of mistakes.”

Leverkusen coach Alonso, who had been unbeaten in his last 10 matches in the competition, needed just one more victory to surpass Louis van Gaal’s all-time record at Bayern Munich. The match began well for Leverkusen with Tah scoring in the 17th minute, tapping in an unmarked ball at the far post. However, Bielefeld responded almost immediately with Woerl seizing on a poor clearance from Piero Hincapie to curl in a stunning equalizer.

Despite dominating possession, Leverkusen struggled to capitalize, with Bielefeld's quick counter-attacks proving dangerous. Just before halftime, Bielefeld took the lead through Grosser, who finished off a Louis Oppie free kick from close range.

Bielefeld continued to outpace their opponents in the second half, winning duels and preventing Leverkusen from finding their rhythm. Patrick Schick, often a late-game hero for Leverkusen, had a chance to equalize in the 81st minute but hit a header against the post.

This year’s German Cup has seen a number of surprises, with recent champions Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Eintracht Frankfurt all eliminated early. On Wednesday, RB Leipzig will face Stuttgart in the other semifinal. Leipzig, who have won two of the last three German Cups, will be managed by interim coach Zsolt Low after Marco Rose’s departure on Sunday.