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Five facts about Arminia Bielefeld

Alex ChafferApril 9, 2015

They've now made their way through to the semifinals of Germany's biggest knockout competition: Arminia Bielefeld are a third division team making headlines. DW's Alex Chaffer fills you in.

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Fussball Bundesliga Spiel Armina Bielefeld gegen Borussia Mönchengladbach
Image: Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images

The semifinalists for this year's German Cup are settled and one name sticks out as an unknown outside of Germany: Arminia Bielefeld. Standing tall atop the German third division, Die Blauen, are the fairytale story from this year's knockout tournament too. Here are five things you need to know about Arminia Bielefeld.

1. Former Bundesliga heavyweight

Although a name not recognised immediately, Arminia are one of the Bundesliga's most established names. The club, which was founded in 1905, has actually spent 16 seasons in the German top flight, meaning they've played more first division games than Freiburg, Hoffenheim, Mainz and Augsburg. They also hold the record for most promotions from the second division, with seven.

2. This season's magical German Cup run

This year's DFB Pokal draw has been kind to Bielefeld, and they are making the most of it. They have defeated three Bundesliga teams so far: Werder Bremen in normal time and Hertha Berlin and Borussia Mönchengladbach with penalties. They have played all ties at home so far, and that will continue in their semifinal against Wolfsburg. The club's Bielefelder Alm stadium has a capacity of nearly 30,000.

3. The Fabian Klos factor

As is customary for an underdog team, Bielefeld have a top player leading the way. 27-year old forward Fabian Klos joined the club in 2011 for free from Wolfsburg and has been in fine form ever since, scoring 67 goals in his 141 club appearances. This year, despite only one German Cup goal, Klos has been the club's standout player. But will they be able to keep him next season?

4. Bundesliga scandal

The 1970-71 season was an infamous one in Germany's first division, as a match-fixing scandal tarnished the league's growing reputation. Arminia was one of the clubs involved, manipulating three of the ten games at issue. Players Waldemar Slomiany and Jürgen Neumann were banned for life, and whilst the club was able to finish the rest of the season, their results were void and Arminia were automatically relegated as a result.

5. Bielefeld: The city that doesn't exist

A conspiracy theory that started up in 1994 at a student party, is now a common, standing joke in Germany: namely, that Bielefeld doesn't exist. The city, located in the western German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, actually has a population of over 300,000 and is home to one of Germany's biggest food production companies, Dr. Oetker.