Arminia Bielefeld Overpowers Bremen to Prolong Their Enchanting DFB Pokal Journey
Every year, the DFB Pokal delights with an unexpected twist. Last year saw 1. FC Saarbrucken fight their way to the semifinals, while 1. FC Kaiserslautern took it a step further, ending up in the final in Berlin, albeit losing to Bayer Leverkusen (0-1).
This year, the DFB Pokal is spinning a new captivating tale with Arminia Bielefeld. On a recent Tuesday, the 3. Liga side managed to upset Bundesliga team Werder Bremen with a 2-1 scoreline, thanks to Marius Wörl's 35th-minute goal and an own goal from Julian Malatini. Oliver Burke halved the lead in the second half, but it was too little, too late.
Werder Bremen became the third Bundesliga team to fall to Arminia Bielefeld this season. The elimination of Hannover 96 in the first round (2-0) was followed by the knockout of Union Berlin (2-0) and SC Freiburg (3-1), propelling Bielefeld into the quarterfinals of the competition. Their victory against Werder marks their first semifinal appearance since the 2014/15 season.
In 2014/15, Bielefeld faced VfL Wolfsburg and lost, only for Wolfsburg to triumph against Borussia Dortmund in the final in Berlin. That match marked Jürgen Klopp's last game in charge of Dortmund.
Dortmund is out of the competition, but Wolfsburg might rewrite history if they beat RB Leipzig in the final quarterfinal on Wednesday morning. The other two squads that have moved forward are VfB Stuttgart and last year's victors, Bayer Leverkusen.
No third-division team has reached the final since Union Berlin's 2-0 defeat to Schalke in 2001. Reaching the final can be as rewarding as the financials, especially for a club like Arminia Bielefeld, having a challenging few years.
- Liga teams like 1. FC Saarbrucken earn substantial rewards from reaching the semifinals of the DFB Pokal. In the 2021-22 season, Saarbrucken made €7 million ($7.2 million) from the competition, an amount equivalent to their entire Transfermarkt squad value.
Arminia Bielefeld has had a successful run this season, currently just four points behind Saarbrucken. The club sustained back-to-back relegations in 2022 and 2023. However, their remarkable performance in the DFB Pokal might be their ticket to a stronger future.
Saarbrucken's impressive DFB Pokal run has positively impacted its current season. The team is now a serious contender for 2. Bundesliga promotion. Similarly, last year's eliminator, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, has built upon their cup run to deliver an excellent season, aiming for Bundesliga promotion.
Clubs plowing ground on their DFB Pokal run isn't a novel concept either. Clubs like Energie Cottbus and Alemannia Aachen have been promoted to the Bundesliga shortly after experiencing a deep run in the cup.
Bielefeld's journey in the semifinal is significant, whether it ends with victory or another runner-up title. Either way, it brings a substantial financial boost to the club and another mesmerizing chapter to the DFB Pokal's rich history.
- Arminia Bielefeld's remarkable victory over Werder Bremen in the DFB Pokal has propelled them into the competition's semifinals, marking their first appearance since the 2014/15 season.
- The DFB Pokal quarterfinals are set to feature some exciting matches, including Dortmund's potential rival, Wolfsburg, striving to rewrite history by reaching the final.
- Bundesliga teams like Werder Bremen have fallen prey to the underdog spirit this season, with Arminia Bielefeld adding Werder to their list of defeated opponents, having previously eliminated Hannover 96 and Union Berlin.
- In the 2021-22 season, 1. FC Saarbrucken, a 2. Bundesliga team, earned an impressive €7 million ($7.2 million) from their successful DFB Pokal run, equaling their entire Transfermarkt squad value.
- The DFB Pokal's allure continues to captivate, particularly for clubs like Arminia Bielefeld, currently struggling in 3. Liga, who may use the financial rewards and emotional highs derived from deep cup runs to strengthen their future competitiveness.
