VfL Bochum has had a weak start to the season. In the test match against MSV, the second string can prove themselves worthy of a place in the starting eleven.

On Thursday (2 p.m., athletics field at the stadium), second division club VfL Bochum will test against MSV Duisburg.

Two opposites will clash here. On the one hand, there is the Bundesliga relegated team from Bochum, which also had a bumpy start to the second division season. On the other hand, there is MSV, which was promoted from the regional league to the third division. There, it has a clean slate after four games – a perfect start.

At VfL, coach Dieter Hecking wants to give playing time to the players who have seen less action recently. And he is hoping for clear signals from these players, as he emphasized: “Our boys have to measure themselves against good opponents. Anything else is of relatively little use to us at the moment. We’re looking to see who is ready and who is raising their hand to show what they can do. The motto is: the last results weren’t good, but I’m still here. Everyone can show how close or how far they are from the starting lineup.”

Some players won’t be able to show what they can do, as they will miss the 90 minutes against MSV. Right-back Kacper Koscierski, defenders Philipp Strompf, Koji Miyoshi, Moritz Kwarteng, and Ibrahima Sissoko are definitely out. Captain Matus Bero is with the Slovakian national team, and U-national team players Leandro Morgalla, Cajetan Lenz, Kjell Wätjen, Francis Onyeka, and Alessandro Crimaldi are also away.

However, Mats Pannewig is fit to play again after recovering from the flu, and Erhan Masovic will also be back after his collapsed lung, with plans for him to play one half.

And let’s not forget the two last-minute additions. Offensive players Michael Obafemi and Farid Alfa-Ruprecht are also set to make their debut in the VfL jersey. Hecking: “I will talk to both of them to see how ready they feel. They come from slightly different circumstances. Farid has been training fully, while Michael has recently been training with the U21s. But both should play.” The same goes for Niclas Thiede, who is set to play the full 90 minutes in goal. cb / gp