Arminia: These nights. Bielefeld beats Bayer in the DFB Pokal

Words: Gregor Ryl

Images: Gregor Ryl

Sometimes, when I watch football these days, I just feel numb of the big clubs, the flashy spectacle, all the sponsorships, the marketing circus, that whole event vibe.

But on a Tuesday in early April, a small football club reminded me why I love this game.

I went to Bielefeld, a little town in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia. People here aren't big talkers; they're friendly, but dry and a bit stubborn. And they love their club – Arminia.

DSC Arminia Bielefeld is in the third division. They've had their struggles. During Covid, they were in the Bundesliga, but then in just two years, they got relegated twice.

But this season? This season is different – thanks to the DFB-Pokal, the German Cup.

“The cup has its own rules.” You hear that all the time when it comes to the DFB-Pokal. It’s a tired cliché, but this season, it’s coming to life through Arminia. In the first round, they knocked out second-tier Hannover 96, and after that, they kept eliminating Bundesliga teams.

©Gregor Ryl/ Terrace Edition. Arminia Bielefeld vs Bayer Leverkusen.

Union Berlin in the second leg, SC Freiburg in the round of 16, and Werder Bremen in the quarters. A small town is fighting big names. Gotta love that.

Speaking of big names – on this particular Tuesday, they faced none other than Bayer Leverkusen, the champions from last season. It was a sunny evening, and I walked through the city to the stadium, watching thousands of fans heading to their beloved “Alm.”

The whole town was alive with energy, flags hanging from every window, and you could already feel that something special was about to happen.

The vibe only got stronger once I was inside. The atmosphere was electric. People were laughing, cheering, singing – even 45 minutes before kick-off. Arminia was celebrating their 120th anniversary this year, and on this night, they were just one game away from the biggest moment in their history – the cup final.

You could see it in every Arminia supporter’s eyes: this game meant everything.

They kicked off with a choreo, and by the second minute, the whole stadium was on their feet. The terraces were shaking, everyone was singing, and even the 1-0 lead from Leverkusen couldn’t stop 60-year-old men from jumping up and yelling “Arminia” from the heart.

When they scored the equalizer, the place absolutely erupted. And then, as the floodlights lit up the smoke from the pyros, they scored the winner early on. No words for what happened next. For the club, the city, and the region, that win was everything.

This wasn’t just an event: This was pure football.

As I was leaving the stadium, the Bayer Leverkusen team bus drove by, and I overheard my favourite moment of the day. An Arminia fan, clearly having had a few beers, shouted his goodbye to the Leverkusen coach: “Hasta Luego, Xabi!”

Arminia Bielefeld’s off to the final in Berlin now. Victory is within reach...and if they lose?

No one’s gonna care.

What’s the thing that makes you love football? It’s these fucking nights.