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.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.