Shortly before 11 p.m., Arminia Bielefeld coach Michel Kniat may have perfectly captured the city's mood. "No one is going to sleep tonight," said the 39-year-old following a historic German Cup victory on Tuesday.

The final whistle sparked ecstatic celebrations in the city of 340,000 inhabitants, nestled in a low mountain range between Dortmund and Hannover. Pubs across the city remained packed until the early morning hours.

Stefano Russo (L) of Arminia Bielefeld vies with Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen during the German Cup football semifinal match between Arminia Bielefeld and Bayer Leverkusen in Bielefeld, Germany, April 1, 2025. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)

Playing in the third division, Bielefeld became the first lower league club since the Bundesliga's foundation in 1963 to defeat four top-flight teams in the German Cup on its way to the final for the first time in franchise history.

Having eliminated the 2024 league and Cup double winner, Bayer Leverkusen, 2-1 further amplified Bielefeld's achievement, which comes with revenue of around 12 million euros in the current campaign.

While Bielefeld is currently competing for promotion to the second-tier league this season, the club's history includes highlights such as its participation in the top flight between 1980 and 1985.

Despite the subsequent downward trend, the city's inhabitants have maintained their passion for football.

Facing Stuttgart in the final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on May 24 presents Bielefeld with the opportunity to become the first third-division club to be crowned champion after Hertha II, Cottbus, and Union previously fell short.

Since its inauguration in 1953, the German Cup has been known for thrilling clashes between established professional clubs and amateur sides, as regional Cup winners qualify for the competition, often turning seemingly uneven matchups into nail-biting contests.

The competition's structure allows lower-league teams to cause major upsets in a single game, whether it's decided in 90 minutes, through extra time, or a penalty shoot-out after 120 minutes.

Every game feels like a final for the participating teams, and the combination of big and small clubs creates a unique charm, often accompanied by a home advantage for lower league clubs.

Having missed the opportunity for further success, Leverkusen was left in disappointment. "I must admit that they deserved the win," said German international Robert Andrich. Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso also acknowledged, "They were the better side tonight."

"We will celebrate and enjoy tonight and tomorrow, and then turn to the daily routines in the league," said Bielefeld midfielder Marius Worl, who scored a goal against Leverkusen, ahead of Saturday's league match against Aachen. 

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