2025 was Arminia's year! After being relegated from the top German league in the 2021/22 season, Bielefeld were relegated all the way down to the third division. But their last season there belonged to Arminia: as champions of the 3. Liga in 2024/25, they were promoted to the 2. Bundesliga, and they also caused a major upset in the DFB Cup.
Bielefeld knocked out five Bundesliga clubs on their incredible journey to the DFB Cup final, including the then-reigning champions, Bayer Leverkusen. Their 2-1 victory against Leverkusen was a sensation: a cup final for a third-division team! To support the players on the pitch in the final against VfB Stuttgart, something grand was erected off the field: 130 square metres of Bielefeld pride, the Hermann Monument near Detmold, wrapped in the largest jersey ever seen on German soil.
Unfortunately, from Arminia’s perspective, it wasn’t enough to defeat Stuttgart in the end. However, their first-ever cup final appearance and legendary run remain unforgettable. Back to the present. 2. Bundesliga, Matchday 28. We’ll be taking a closer look at Bielefeld’s aerial prowess.
| Top Scorer | Top Assists |
| Joel Grodowski – 9 Goals | Momuluh Monju – 7 Assists |
| Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee – 5 Goals | Tim Handwerker – 6 Assists |
| Tim Handwerker – 3 Goals | Mael Corboz – 4 Assists |
| Momuluh Monju – 3 Goals | Maximilian Großer – 3 Assists |
| Mael Corboz – 2 Goals | Joel Grodowski – 2 Assists |
Michel "Mitch" Kniat
Head coach of DSC Arminia BielefeldWhen Arminia Bielefeld plays with their heads, the move is not only clever but usually results in a goal. With ten headed goals already this season, Arminia boasts the second-best record in the league – only Paderborn (13) has scored more. Eighteen outfield players in the DSC squad are over 1.80m tall, and coach Mitch Kniat knows how to exploit that. Only two other clubs have attempted more headed shots than the East Westphalians (70). Arminia Bielefeld therefore needs seven attempts to head the ball into the net. So, the Lilies‘ defence needs to be wary! It’s fortunate that Marcel Schuhen has only had to pick the ball out of the net four times from headers – second only to Kaiserslautern (3), that’s the best record in the league.
33 years old and still an absolute leader. That’s Robin Knoche. At the end of January, the centre-back transferred from 1. FC Nürnberg to Arminia Bielefeld. The reason was simple: more playing time. And under his new coach, Mitch Kniat, he certainly got it. In his first six matches at Bielefeld’s Alm stadium, Knoche played the full 90 minutes in every single one.
The Braunschweig native has already experienced a great deal in his long career – a triumph in the DFB Cup and the Supercup stand out on his résumé. He won both trophies during his time at VfL Wolfsburg, where he spent a total of 15 years. Knoche first wore the VfL jersey at the age of twelve. His move from Wolfsburg took him to the „Alte Försterei“ stadium for four years. With Union Berlin, he embarked on a Champions League journey – traveling to Madrid, Naples, and Braga.
Now the veteran finds himself embroiled in a relegation battle in the second division. „That’s football,“ Knoche succinctly summarised in an interview with „Kicker.“ When he needs a break from the daily grind of league play, he finds „a little distraction“ in darts, as he also revealed in the same interview with „kicker.“ He’ll never forget his first 180. „I really went completely crazy,“ Knoche joked. He also cites a 161 checkout as a major achievement: „That was definitely the highlight.“ But football trumps the dartboard. Because there won’t be much time for darts for Robin Knoche and Arminia Bielefeld in their fight to stay in the league.
What awaits SV Darmstadt 98 on Saturday afternoon against Arminia Bielefeld? How did the 98ers use the international break, and what are Florian Kohfeldt's thoughts on the final stretch of the season? The Lilies' head coach answered these and other questions at the press conference on Thursday before the match at the Alm (April 4th, 1pm). We've summarised the most important statements from our head coach's press conference for you.
The sun is shining on the Bielefeld Alm on Saturday afternoon (April 4th, 1pm). On matchday 28 of this second division season, DSC Arminia Bielefeld hosts SV Darmstadt 98. To ensure you have all the information you need for your trip to the SchücoArena, here's what you need to know about your visit.
While Bielefeld are looking to improve their record to secure safety at the end of the season, SV Darmstadt 98 are eager to finally pick up three points away from home. In Saturday's match (April 4th, 1pm) between Arminia Bielefeld and Darmstadt, the 15th-placed team hosts the fourth-placed side. You can read about the areas where the two teams are closely matched, as well as all the key facts and figures, in the Top Facts section below.
Marcel Schuhen is eager to get back to Bielefeld and explained just that in a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon (April 1st). The Bölle Gang and numerous other kids were also out in force this week. With the Easter egg hunt at the Bölle stadium and the Merck-Lilien football camp at the youth academy, there was something for even the youngest Lilies to enjoy. You can read about these and other topics in "Lilies Across the Board". As usual, our weekly column features numerous articles about club life at SV Darmstadt 98.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team failed to secure any points away at SV Weidenhausen on Saturday (March 28th/3pm). Despite leading at halftime and putting in a strong effort, they ultimately suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat.
After their eventful days in San Antonio, the Darmstadt delegation concludes their trip to Texas in Beaumont. And the scene that greets the team from southern Hesse initially seems like a crazy dream. Far from home and under the Texas sun, a club wears the Lily on its chest and the Darmstadt name on its back.
A delegation led by Darmstadt 98 president Markus Pfitzner is using the current international break in March for a trip to San Antonio to further strengthen the connection with cooperation partner San Antonio FC, gain deeper insights into the local economy, and immerse themselves in the culture and history of Darmstadt’s sister city. We will be covering their time in Texas on this page.
The German Football League (DFL) announced the exact times for the remaining matchdays on Friday afternoon (March 27). The home game on matchday 31 against SV Elversberg will take place on Saturday evening (April 25) at 8:30pm. This will be followed by two away games against Karlsruher SC (May 3) and Preußen Münster (May 10), both at 1:30pm. On the final matchday, Darmstadt will host SC Paderborn at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor at 3:30pm. (May 17).
SV Darmstadt 98 won their friendly match against 1. FC Saarbrücken during the international break. Florian Kohfeldt's team triumphed 4-2 (2-1) at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, behind closed doors.
Following his injury, Luca Marseiler posted an emotional message on Instagram, while Patric Pfeiffer has been called up to the Ghanaian national team for the first time. You'll also find out what the other Darmstadt teams have been up to. All this and more, as always, in our "Darmstadt Across the Board" section.
Born in Hamburg in 1999 and raised in the Hanseatic city, Patric Pfeiffer's roots lie in Ghana, his mother's homeland. He has now been called up to the Ghanaian national team for the first time, and two special international matches await the SV Darmstadt 98 centre-back: first against Austria (March 27th, 6pm), then against Germany (March 30th, 8:45pm). Before the 26-year-old departs with the West Africans, we arranged an interview with him. A conversation about family and dreams, memories and old acquaintances.
The worst fears have been confirmed: Luca Marseiler suffered a torn cruciate ligament in the home match against FC Schalke 04. The 29-year-old sustained the injury in the 23rd minute without any contact from an opponent. Marseiler will be sidelined for several months. Further treatment and the timing of the surgery will be decided in the coming days.