VfL Bochum will play at 1. FC Köln on Thursday. Here’s what coach Peter Zeidler had 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 side 1. FC Köln. After an early exit from the DFB Cup and a winless streak in the Bundesliga (last after six matchdays), the team needs to boost its confidence ahead of the difficult weeks ahead.

After the international break, the Bundesliga will resume with a tough schedule 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 we always train. We want to show that in competitive conditions. And even if it’s only a test, we want to do everything we can to ensure we come away with a sense of achievement.”

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

After tearing his cruciate ligament, he will make his comeback for Bochum’s U21 team in the Oberliga Westfalen against SV Lippstadt next week (Saturday, October 19, 4:30 p.m.), as the coach explained on Wednesday.

The coach wants to give all his field players some practice in the test match in Cologne, although no player is scheduled to play for more than 90 minutes. This is because the next training session is scheduled for Friday, where the team will be working intensively.

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