Belief in Bielefeld: How Pokal underdogs Arminia plotted an historic path to Berlin | OneFootball

The sound of referee Harm Osmers’ whistle prompted the biggest roar of the night – an outpour of emotion all around the Bielefelder Alm.

Head coach Mitch Kniat and the home team’s dugout emptied as jubilant fans flooded the pitch swarming players like Marius Worl. Those who remained in the stands looked on with teary eyes. Right winger Noah Sarenren-Bazee buried his face in his substitute’s bib to absorb tears of joy.

Arminia Bielefeld – DFB-Pokal finalists for the first time in their 119-year history.

It hasn't been an easy few seasons for the club from North-Rhein Westphalia. Consecutive relegations from the Bundesliga in 2021-22 and 2.Bundesliga in 2022-23 have stung. Yet, the German DFB-Pokal instils a form of magic in teams unlike any other cup competition in the world – belief.

Greater than the sum of their parts, Bielefeld rolled over Hannover 96 in the first-round back in August on a 2-0 scoreline. Still, the road to come would be anything but straightforward.

Mitch Kniat’s men overwhelmed three German top-flight sides on the trot. Union Berlin fell by the wayside 2-0 in the second-round before SC Freiburg were put to the sword 3-1 at the Alm in the last-16.

Despite garnering a reputation as ‘giant killers’ come the quarter-final, the pressure never told. Once again, Worl struck while a Julian Malatini own-goal gave way to a 2-1 triumph over Werder Bremen.

The name Arminia stems from the chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe – Arminius. A warrior and his people famed for defeating the mighty, all-conquering Romans and three of their legions at the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D.

However, pulling out Bayer Leverkusen, reigning Pokal and Bundesliga champions no less, in the last-four draw could have been grounds for a massacre. A bridge too far, a challenge to mighty; a fourth unsuccessful semi-final relinquish to the Bielefeld history books.

Not this time. Kniat’s motive was clear in his press conference – ‘We want to go to Berlin!’ So, to the capital they go – having outclassed the German double champions 2-1 courtesy of strikes from Worl once more and Maximilian Grosser.

Arminia Bielefeld becoming only the fourth finalist from Germany’s third division since the competition’s creation in 1952-53. The first 3.Liga side to eliminate four Bundesliga clubs in one run. The first ever Olympiastadion final odyssey – uncharted waters navigated by belief.