VfL Bochum will play at 1. FC Cologne on Thursday. Here’s what coach Peter Zeidler has to say ahead of the 90 minutes in the cathedral city.

On Thursday (October 10, 1 p.m., behind closed doors), Bundesliga club VfL Bochum will test its form against second-division club 1. FC Cologne. After an early exit from the DFB Cup and a run without a win in the Bundesliga (last after six matchdays), the aim is also to build up self-confidence before the difficult weeks ahead.

Because after the international break, the Bundesliga continues with a tough program against TSG Hoffenheim, FC Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart.

Ahead of the game in Cologne, VfL coach Peter Zeidler said: “It’s important that we implement the principles that we always train. We want to show that under competitive conditions. And even if it’s just a test, we want to do everything we can to have a sense of achievement.”

Every player available will get some game time. Zeidler has 20 field players at his disposal. Not included are the five players who have traveled to the national team (Tim Oermann, Ibrahima Sissoko, Aliou Baldé, Matúš Bero and Gerrit Holtmann) and the injured Bernardo, Myron Boadu (he is expected to return to training on Friday) and Mohammed Tolba.

The latter, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture, will make his comeback next week, as the coach explained on Wednesday, in the Bochum U21 team’s game in the Westfalen Oberliga against SV Lippstadt (Saturday, October 19, 4:30 p.m.).

At the friendly in Cologne, the coach wants to give all his outfield players game time, although no player is scheduled to play the full 90 minutes. That’s because the next session, which will involve intensive work, is scheduled for Friday.

The talented Alessandro Crimaldi, who has been training with the professionals since Monday, will also be in Cologne. So far this season, the 17-year-old has made six appearances for the U19s in the DFB Youth League (two goals, four assists). cb / gp