On April 1, 2025, the highly anticipated DFB-Pokal semi-final will see Arminia Bielefeld take on the reigning champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Schüco-Arena in Bielefeld. Kickoff is scheduled for 20:45 Uhr, with coverage starting at 20:15 Uhr on ARD, marking a thrilling evening for football fans.
Bayer Leverkusen, under the guidance of coach Xabi Alonso, enters the match as the clear favorite. As the current Bundesliga champions, they have been in formidable form, aiming to secure their spot in the DFB-Pokal final for the sixth time. Amine Adli, who was the top scorer in last year's DFB-Pokal with five goals, is a key player to watch as he looks to add to his tally.
Leverkusen's path to the semi-finals has been impressive, defeating Carl Zeiss Jena (1:0), SV Elversberg (3:0), FC Bayern München (1:0), and 1. FC Köln (3:2 after extra time). Their latest Bundesliga match saw them triumph over Bochum with a score of 3:1, showcasing their readiness for the upcoming challenge.
On the other hand, Arminia Bielefeld, currently competing in the third tier of German football, has proven to be a formidable opponent in this cup run. They have eliminated several higher-division teams, including Hannover 96 (2:0), Union Berlin (2:0), SC Freiburg (3:1), and Werder Bremen (2:1). This will be Bielefeld's ninth appearance in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals, and they hope to become the first third-division team since Union Berlin in the 2000/01 season to reach the final.
Bielefeld's captain, Lukas Hradecky, expressed confidence ahead of the match, stating, "This will be a cracker. For Bielefeld, it’s probably the game of the year. But I’d love to go back to Berlin." His teammate, Aleix Garcia, added, "It will be a tough game. But we are Bayer Leverkusen; we play every game to win. We want to go to Berlin."
The atmosphere in Bielefeld is expected to be electric, with fans hoping their team can pull off an upset against the Bundesliga giants. Historically, Bielefeld has been a giant-killer in the DFB-Pokal, having taken down several Bundesliga teams in previous rounds. They are currently sitting fourth in the third league, fighting for promotion while also making a deep cup run.
For those unable to watch the match on television, the game will be available for streaming on the ARD media library, as well as on sportschau.de. The match will also be broadcast live on the paid streaming service WOW, with coverage starting at 20:15 Uhr.
As the clock ticks down to kickoff, football fans across Germany are gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Will Bielefeld's underdog status shine through, or will Leverkusen's experience and quality see them through to the final? One thing is for sure: this DFB-Pokal semi-final is not to be missed.
The second semi-final, featuring VfB Stuttgart against RB Leipzig, will take place the following day, April 2, 2025, at the same time, adding to the excitement of this cup week.
