DSC Arminia Bielefeld 2025/26 season preview: Kniat keen to take Pokal spirit into 2.Bundesliga campaign | OneFootball

As one of two newly promoted sides, Arminia Bielefeld will look back on their 2024-25 campaign with great fondness. Although their first-ever DFB Pokal final ended in defeat to VfB Stuttgart, nothing could stand in their way as they claimed the 3.Liga title. Boasting the best defensive record (36 goals conceded) and a whopping 21 wins, 9 draws and just 8 defeats in 38 games, Mitch Kniat guided Die Arminen to glory in style while embodying the fighting spirit of Arminius – the fearsome Germanic tribe leader who defeated the Romans in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest.

Perhaps more importantly, Bielefeld have put an end to their seemingly eternal slide down the Bundesrepublik’s divisions. Despite being a topflight side as recently as 2021-22, Die Arminia plummeted to the 2.Bundesliga and 3.Liga in consecutive seasons. However, a steadying campaign in 23-24 set the foundations for achieving promotion and with it their first rise up the ranks in 5 years.

Transfers:

It has been a solid transfer window for Arminia thus far despite their financial inferiority compared to some of the second division’s big hitters. A handful of loan signings include Benjamin Boakye who chipped in with 5 goals and 2 assists in 32 games for VfB Stuttgart’s U-23’s in the 3.Liga. However, their standout coup is undoubtedly Marvin Mehlem who arrives from Hull City for slashed price €500,000 steal. The 27-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Paderborn where he picked up 4 goals and 2 assists in 16 outings.

Unfortunately, in ways, success and talent comes with the added attention of bigger clubs. It seemed inevitable that two of Bielefeld’s most crucial players in Louis Oppie (€2million to St.Pauli) and Marius Worl (loan expiry, Hannover 96) would be first to leave. Oppie’s 5 goals and 11 assists in 47 games, largely from left-back and left-midfield, earned him a move to the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, Pokal hero Worl (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 games) returns to Hannover after a successful loan spell with Die Arminen – both individuals will be hard to replace.

Pre-season preparations:

At the time of writing, Bielefeld are unbeaten in their pre-season preparations to date. The club from North Rhine-Westphalia batted SC Verl aside on a 5-1 scoreline, before a 2-2 stalemate with Wiedenbruck and a 7-1 thrashing of TSV Havelse. Although facing relatively weaker opposition, Bielefeld kept their momentum rolling at their west Austrian training camp with a 3-1 win over Austrian side SC Imst before impressively defeating fellow 2.Bundesliga outfit Nuernberg 2-1. Noah Sarenren Bazee has been the standout name (7 goals) thus far, with Julian Kania (4 goals) also in form. Their greatest litmus test will come against French giants AS Monaco on July 26.

Possible starting lineup:

(4-3-3) Kersken (GK) – Lannert, Schneider, Grosser, Handwerker – Schreck, Russo, Corboz – Sarenren Bazee, Kania, Mehlem

In 23-year-old Jonas Kersken, Bielefeld has one of the most reliable young goalkeepers in Germany never mind the 2.Bundesliga, meanwhile Christopher Lannert, Leon Schneider and Maxi Grosser should partner the returning Tim Handwerker at left back.

Mitch Kniat ought to set up in a 4-3-3 formation with perhaps a more cautious approach – Stefano Russo might sit deeper than Sam Schreck and the offensive-minded Mael Corboz (10 goals, 7 assists last season). Noah Sarenren Bazee brings pace to the right flank with new signing Marvin Mehlem on the left. Julian Kania’s 17 goals last season might be enough to spearhead the attack, although Joel Grodowski could contend for the starting berth.

Predictions for the 2025-26 campaign:

Returning to arguably the most competitive 2.Bundesliga assortment in years, Bielefeld will be up against it this season. Mitch Kniat won’t need to be told twice about the club’s objective of maintaining their second division status. If Die Arminen can conjure up that Pokal fighting spirit which saw them advance past Union Berlin, SC Freiburg, Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen – anything is possible. Momentum seems to favour them in that respect, but grinding out results in the intimidating 27,332-capacity Bielefelder Alm will be vital. Given the size of some of their opponents, it’s hard to envisage anything other than a relegation battle and a finish between 15th- and 18th-place would be impressive.