Bayer Leverkusen, the defending German Cup champions, were unexpectedly knocked out of the competition by third-division side Arminia Bielefeld in a dramatic 2-1 semi-final defeat on Tuesday. The match, held at Bielefeld’s home ground, saw the underdogs outplay the heavily favored Leverkusen team, leaving many shocked by the result.
Leverkusen, under the management of Xabi Alonso, were considered strong contenders to reach their second consecutive German Cup final. However, they were unable to maintain their early momentum. The match began with promise for Leverkusen when Jonathan Tah opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Tah capitalized on a well-placed cross, tapping in unmarked at the far post.
But Bielefeld quickly responded, with Marius Woerl scoring just three minutes later. Woerl took advantage of a poorly cleared ball by Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie, curling a shot past the goalkeeper to bring the match level at 1-1.
As the first half continued, Bielefeld gained control of the game, showing impressive counter-attacking play. Just before the break, they took the lead with a goal from Maximilian Grosser. Grosser struck a powerful shot from close range, converting a free-kick delivery from Louis Oppie. The goal came in first-half stoppage time, giving Bielefeld a crucial 2-1 advantage.
In the second half, Leverkusen struggled to break down Bielefeld’s defense. Despite having more possession, they couldn’t create significant scoring opportunities. Bielefeld continued to press, dominating the physical duels and denying Leverkusen any clear chances to equalize. Patrick Schick, who has been Leverkusen’s late-game hero on several occasions in the past two seasons, came close to scoring in the 81st minute. He found himself unmarked in the box but could only head the ball against the post, sealing Leverkusen’s fate.
The loss is a major upset, as Bielefeld became just the fourth third-division team in history to reach the German Cup final. The team has now eliminated four top-flight opponents in this year’s competition. Bielefeld will now look ahead to the final in Berlin, where they will face either RB Leipzig or Stuttgart. If Bielefeld can secure victory in the final, they will earn a spot in next season’s Europa League.
Leverkusen’s exit ends their hopes of defending their title and is particularly surprising given Alonso’s impressive unbeaten run in the German Cup, having not lost in 10 previous matches. With this defeat, Alonso’s side has failed to extend their cup run further, leaving many to reflect on the unpredictable nature of this year’s German Cup, which has seen other giants like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Eintracht Frankfurt eliminated early.
