In a challenging match played on March 20, 2025, Preußen Münster faced off against Bundesliga side VfL Bochum in a test game, ultimately succumbing to a 2-4 defeat. The friendly was held at the Leichtathletikplatz of the Vonovia Ruhrstadion, with the match starting at 14:00. Unfortunately for Preußen, the outcome was marred by injuries to key players, particularly defender Torge Paetow, who could face a significant recovery period.
During the game, which was attended by about 1,500 spectators, Torge Paetow suffered a severe injury after approximately an hour of play when he was accidentally struck by an opponent's foot during a tackle. The 29-year-old was swiftly accompanied off the field by the team's doctor, Kristian Schneider, and transported to the hospital with his left forearm both splinted and strapped. Before leaving, Paetow shared his distress, stating, "Der Arm tut höllisch weh und ist offenbar gebrochen. Wie und wo genau, das müssen jetzt die Röntgenbilder zeigen." It is anticipated that he may be sidelined for up to six weeks, potentially cutting his season short.
In addition to Paetow's misfortune, his teammate Lukas Frenkert also exited the field limping in the waning moments of the match, suspected to have suffered a torn groin. Head Coach Sascha Hildmann expressed his hope for Frenkert, noting, "Ich hoffe trotzdem, dass es nicht ganz so schlimm ist. Sondern nur ein Krampf. Aber auch bei Lukas müssen wir erst das Ergebnis einer genauen Untersuchung abwarten." Their injuries present a considerable challenge for the struggling team as they fight for survival in the second division.
The game itself featured a flurry of scoring, heavily favoring Bochum in the first half, where they led 3-0 by halftime, thanks to three mistakes by Preußen's defense, namely Bolay, ter Horst, and Paetow. The goals from Bochum came from Boadu (10'), Bamba (26'), and Pannewig (42'). After the interval, Preußen showcased increased resolve, with Daniel Kyerewaa scoring in the 48th minute, reducing the deficit to 1-3. Shortly after, Andras Nemeth celebrated his first goal with Preußen, bringing the score to 2-4 in the 59th minute, with VfL keeper Patrick Drewes unable to intercept a corner kick.
Despite the agreed score, Bochum’s Moritz Broschinski sealed the game in the second half, reestablishing the two-goal lead. Commenting on the match following its conclusion, Coach Hildmann remarked on some positives from the fixture, particularly that it offered under-utilized players a chance to demonstrate their abilities. “Abgesehen von den Verletzungen hat der Test das gebracht, was ich mir erhofft hatte. Gerade unsere Jungs, die in der Liga zuletzt weniger zum Zuge kamen, waren mal wieder unter Wettkampf-Bedingungen gefordert. Insgesamt hat's ordentlich geklappt, auch wenn unsere Fehler vor den Gegentoren natürlich absolut unnötig waren,” he noted.
However, amidst the challenge, Preußen Münster witnessed the return of veteran midfielder Sebastian Mrowca, who came back after a lengthy recovery period of 249 days due to an Achilles tendon tear. Mrowca not only played a full 90 minutes but almost scored on his return, with a header striking the post just minutes into the match. “Ein tolles Gefühl, endlich wieder auf dem Platz zu stehen. Mal schauen, wie und ob mein Körper morgen reagiert. Aber heute hat‘s richtig viel Spaß gemacht,” Mrowca expressed, radiating joy at being back in action.
Looking ahead, Preußen Münster has an important schedule lined up, including matches against Eintracht Braunschweig on March 30, Fortuna Düsseldorf on April 5, and Karlsruher SC on April 13. They are also slated to face 1. FC Köln on April 20, with another game against SV Darmstadt 98 yet to be scheduled sometime between April 25-27. While the latest test match was a disappointing end to their efforts for a win, it served as a crucial step toward preparedness as they delve deeper into the season amid testing circumstances.
