Third-tier outfit Arminia Bielefeld produced the next upset of their sensational DFB Cup run this season by ousting Werder Bremen 2-1 in the quarter-finals to book their spot in the last four.
Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Wörl (30'), 2-0 (o.g. Malatini 35'), 2-1 Burke 56' (assist: Bittencourt)
Having already eliminated Bundesliga 2 side Hannover and top-flight clubs Union Berlin and Freiburg en route to the quarter-finals, Bielefeld were by no means fazed by their more well-known visitors. After a hard-fought and evenly balanced opening period, things started to unravel for Bremen around the half-hour mark when talisman Marvin Ducksch had to be substituted off with injury. Joel Felix blazed a close-range header over the bar for the home side moments later, before Marius Wörl showed him how it was done a few seconds later. Robbing Júlian Malatini of possession wide on the Bremen right, the Bielefeld attacker cut inside and curled in a brilliant opener with an effort in off the far post. Worse was to come for Malatini, who inadvertently deflected a teasing right-wing cross into his own net to leave Bremen two goals down at the interval.
Bremen coach Ole Werner brought on Oliver Burke and Leo Bittencourt at half-time in a bid to turn the game around, and it was not long before their impact was felt. Moments after Justin Njinmah was denied one-on-one by goalkeeper Jonas Kersken, Bittencourt teed up Burke to lash in from just outside the six-yard box and give the second half a different complexion. Njinmah fired just wide with a well-struck volley as Werder tried to force an equaliser, but they had to remain alert at the back given Bielefeld’s ongoing threat on the counter. Amos Pieper very nearly forced extra time just moments after coming on as a late substitute, but he could only crash a header off the crossbar against his former club. The seven minutes of added time were as exhilarating as they were nail-biting, but ultimately Bielefeld held on to advance to the last four.
Oliver Burke's fine finish was ultimately not enough for Bremen against a dogged Bielefeld side. - IMAGO/Noah Wedel
Match stats
- Arminia’s Wörl has two goals and three assists in the cup this season. Only Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa has been involved in as many goals this campaign (five).
- Bielefeld have won their last four cup ties against Bundesliga clubs, including victories this season over Union Berlin (2-0) and Freiburg (3-1).
- Alongside Saarbrücken, Arminia are the only other club to reach the semi-finals twice while playing outside the top two divisions.
- Werder won both meetings when these sides last met in the Bundesliga in 2020/21, but Bielefeld won the only previous cup tie with the aforementioned 3-1 victory.
- Bremen are the most successful team in the DFB Cup after Bayern Munich with six titles. However, no Bundesliga team in the division’s 62-year history has been knocked out of the cup by clubs outside the top two leagues as often as Werder (11 times).
Teams
Bielefeld: Kersken - Lannert, Schneider, Felix, Oppie - Russo, Schreck, Kunze (Großer 66') - Kania (Uldrikis 55', Sarenren Bazee 66'), Wörl (Gradowski 90'), Corboz (c)
Unused subs: Oppermann, Hagmann, Boujellab, Biankadi, Schroers
Out: -
Coach: Mitch Kniat
Bremen: Zetterer - Malatini (Pieper 88'), Stark (c), Jung - Weiser, Stage, Lynen, Grüll (Bittencourt 46'), Köhn (Agu 82') - Ducksch (Njinmah 30'), Silva (Burke 46')
Unused subs: Backhaus, Veljković, Alvero, Kaboré
Out: Friedl (knee), Schmid (ill)
Coach: Ole Werner
As it happened!
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Full-time! Bielefeld 2-1 Bremen
Bielefeld reach the DFB Cup semi-finals at the expense of Bremen. It's the 3. Liga outfit's third Bundesliga scalp, after knocking out Union Berlin and Freiburg in the previous rounds. They were the better side tonight - Kniat's team just seemed to want it more - and are now one more win from the final. What a story this is!
© Fabio Deinert
Full-time
Deflected!
Großer gets a crucial touch to deflect a goalward header behind for a corner...
Disallowed goal!
Bremen live to fight another day as Sam Schreck's breakaway goal is chalked off. Grodowski fouled Agu in the build-up...
Almost Pieper!
The Werder sub meets a cross from the right, but his header comes back off the crossbar!
Added time!
Arminia are SEVEN minutes from a place in the DFB Cup semi-finals...
Extra body in attack
Pieper - formerly of Bielefeld - replaces Malatini. The defender will look to get forward at every opportunity in the closing stages.
Bread basket
Agu with a burst of energy you'd expect from a late sub, but his cross is straight into the arms of the goalkeeper, who's in no rush to release the ball.
Well read
Kersken's quick off his line to clear a long ball bound for Burke. Great awareness!
Fine voice
The home fans have been superb tonight. Non-stop noise from all angles. What a ride they've been on in this season's cup, and it's not over yet!
Finely poised
Bielefeld have dealt well with conceding and those personnel changes. They're seeing more of the ball once again, but Werder will surely muster at least one more chance...
Into the book
It's been a tough night at the office for Malatini, who's booked for catching Schreck.
Double change
Worrying sight for the hosts as Uldrikis is stretchered off. Sarenren Bazee, formerly of Hannover, is his replacement. Großer's also come on for Kunze.
Uldrikis can't continue
The Arminia sub just took a blow to his standing leg. His night's over...
Justin-ches away!
The Werder forward spanks a volley goalwards from inside the Bielefeld area, but it fizzes wide. Bremen mean business...
Zetterer to the rescue
A big, big save by the boot of the Bremen stopper stops Lannert finishing off a rapier-like counter. We have a serious cup tie on our hands in Bielefeld!
Burke pulls one back!
The substitutes combine as Bittencourt picks off a stray pass and releases Burke for a composed finish past the goalkeeper. Game on!
Bremen improvement
Whatever Werder said to his players at the break has worked. They're really pushing for a way back into this...
Denied!
Njinmah is played one-on-one by Stage's through-ball, but Kersken makes himself big and gets down really well as the Dutchman tried to skirt round him.
Right idea!
Bremen start the second half showing the Green-White shoots of recovery as substitute Oliver Burke heads wide. Leo Bittencourt's also come on, with Silva and Grüll hooked.
Kick-off!
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Half-time: Bielefeld 2-0 Bremen
Bundesliga club Bremen are heading out of the DFB Cup, as things stand. They've been outplayed and outscored by 3. Liga's Bielefeld, who are 45 minutes or so from a place in the semi-finals.
© Fabio Deinert
Half-time
Another Arminia goal!
It gets worse for Bremen and Malatini. In trying to stop Russo's right-wing cross, the Argentine defender toes the ball goalwards. Weiser tries to prevent it sneaking in at the far post, but the ball had already crossed the line and is bundled in anyway.
Zetterer at full stretch
He couldn't get near Wörl's effort, but Bremen's No.1 pulls off an impressive diving save to prevent Russo converting from a free-kick.
Wörldie!
Marius Wörl picks the pockets of Malatini on the left-hand side of the Bremen area. He steps inside and thunders a fierce finish across Zetterer, firing in via the upright. The cupset is on!
Over!
Oppie delivers a brilliant cross into the Werder area. The unmarked Felix goes to meet it on the penalty spot, but the ball cannons off his shoulder and spins past the upright.
There's the change
Njinmah replaces the injured Ducksch, who has clearly pulled something.
Ducksch down
Ducksch is holding the back of his right thigh. He's just indicated to the bench - his night is over.
Stat attack
Bremen are the most successful team in the DFB Cup after Bayern Munich with six titles. However, no Bundesliga team has been knocked out of the cup by clubs outside the top two leagues as often as Werder (10 times).
Assured in possession
Bielefeld are passing the ball with real confidence right now. It's hard to believe they're only fourth in Germany's third tier...
Off target
Arminia continue to keep Werder at arm's length as Ducksch sends a speculative effort wide from range.
Flag raised!
Relief for Bremen as Zetterer fails to keep hold of Russo's flicked header in the box, before the whistle sounds for offside. The initial set-piece delivery was superb - that'll give Arminia confidence.
Wayward
Silva has a go from range, but it's not troubling Kersken in the Arminia goal. The Leipzig loanee has only scored once all season.
Under way!
It's very loud in Bielefeld as the game kicks off. What a backdrop!
Last four taking shape
Leverkusen are Stuttgart are already through to the last four. Leipzig take on Wolfsburg on Wednesday, in the fourth and final clash of the quarters.
More on those teams
Malatini replaces the injured Friedl in the Bremen defence, whilst midfielders Stage and Grüll come in following the heavy league loss to Freiburg. As for hosts Arminia, Kania, Oppie, Kunze and Schreck are the four changes to the side that won in Munich on Friday.
Bremen starting line-up
Zetterer - Malatini, Stark (c), Jung - Weiser, Stage, Lynen, Grüll, Köhn - Ducksch, Silva
Bremen subs
Backhaus, Pieper, Bittencourt, Njinmah, Veljković, Burke, Agu, Alvero, Kaboré
Bielefeld starting line-up
Kersken - Lannert, Schneider, Felix, Oppie - Russo, Schreck, Kunze - Kania, Wörl, Corboz (c)
Bielefeld subs
Oppermann, Hagmann, Boujellab, Gradowski, Biankadi, Großer, Schroers, Uldrikis, Sarenren Bazee
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Mitch Kniat's view on Bremen
"They're the clear favourites. We accept our role, it doesn't bother us. We know we need everything to go right for us and for them to have an off day. We're excited. We'll throw ourselves into every challenge. We have to take the joy out of football for Bremen and show the same enjoyment that we have shown in recent weeks."
© IMAGO/Stefan Bösl
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Ole Werner's view on Bielefeld
"We're preparing as we would for any other game. They make life difficult for the opposition. They play good football and have a good structure - we have to counter that."
© IMAGO/RHR-Foto
Rewind: Arminia Bielefeld 0-2 Werder Bremen
Watch, or re-watch, all the action from the last meeting between these two sides back in the 2020/21 Bundesliga campaign.
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Familiar face
The last time these two sides meet in 2021, Amos Pieper was representing Bielefeld. In his time there, he made 101 appearances, with 57 of those coming in the Bundesliga. His only goal for the club was their second in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich.
© Ulrich Hufnagel via www.imago-images.de/imago images/Ulrich Hufnagel
Last time they met
The last time these two sides faced each other was in the 2020/21 Bundesliga season. Bremen did the double over Bielefeld that season, winning 2-0 on the road 1-0 in Bremen. That season saw Bielefeld (15th) finish above Bremen (17th), who were relegated to the Bundesliga 2.
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In good form
In addition to their outstanding DFB Cup results, Bielefeld are also doing well in the third division. They currently sit in fourth and have won their last two games, against Erzgebirge Aue (2-1) and 1860 Munich (3-0).
© IMAGO/Noah Wedel
Giant killing Bielefeld up next
Arminia Bielefeld inflicted a 3-1 defeat on the Freiburg side that tormented Bremen on Matchday 23 in the previous round. That followed a second round 2-0 win over Union Berlin, making Bielefeld the team to look out for, especially for Bundesliga clubs.
Bremen's late season stumble
In their last ten games, Bremen have won three, lost five and drawn two. Their form since the turn of the year has them bottom of the table with one win from eight and 22 goals conceded - the most in the league.
Watch: Freiburg 5-0 Werder Bremen - highlights
Werder Bremen slid further away from the European places with a third successive loss against Freiburg on Matchday 23. They currently sit in 12th, on 30 points.
Welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Tuesday's DFB Cup quarter-final clash between Arminia Bielfeld of the 3. Liga and Werder Bremen as they look to join Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart in the final four.
