Trainer Arne Slot will most likely change Feyenoord's starting eleven against AZ in two positions on Sunday afternoon compared to last week's competition match with FC Twente (0-0). The Rotterdam team will play the third consecutive top match in Alkmaar at 2:30 PM. Calvin Stengs and Yankuba Minteh are expected to make their return to the starting line-up.

Slot was unable to call on Minteh in recent weeks due to his participation in the African Cup of Nations. However, the Gambian was eliminated in the group stage of the final tournament after a bizarre final phase against Cameroon (2-3 loss).

Stengs was also missing against FC Twente last week, because he was not fully fit. The same applied to left back Marcos López. Both players returned to the training field this week.

“Stengs is fully training again, although we will continue to monitor him closely to see how his body copes with the many competitions that await us in the coming weeks,” Slot said at the preparatory press conference on Friday.

Thomas van den Belt, Stengs' replacement against Twente, suffered an injury in that match and has to miss the match against AZ. The return of Stengs is very welcome for Slot, as the Rotterdam team has not won in the last four Eredivisie matches.

Minteh also seems to be able to count on a starting spot. The Gambian was already in the match selection against Twente, but then had to watch as Slot experimented with Bart Nieuwkoop as right winger for the second time in a row.

At AZ, coach Maarten Martens has some personnel problems in the defense. Denzo Kasius is suspended, while goalkeepers Mathew Ryan (Asia Cup) and Hobie Verhulst have been absent for some time. A stroke of luck for Martens in the return of Bruno Martins Indie, who can start against his old club Feyenoord.

Possible line-up AZ:

Owusu-Oduro; Penetra, Bazoer, Martins Indi, Møller Wolfe; Mijnans, De Wit, Clasie; Lahdo, Pavlidis, Van Brederode.

Presumed Feyenoord line-up:

Bijlow; Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Timber, Stengs; Minteh, Gimenez, Paixão.

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