Global eyes are on the Saudi Pro League like never before after its clubs welcomed a host of star-studded new arrivals to the Kingdom over the past year. Each week, Al Arabiya English will round-up the key storylines as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar and Co do battle for the 2023-24 title.
Matchday 23 saw Al Hilal claim its 27th successive victory in all competitions, equaling the world record, while Al Nassr lost further ground after being upset at home by Al Raed, Talal Haji became the Saudi Pro League’s youngest ever goalscorer, and Al Ahli moved a step closer to an AFC Champions League return.
Record victory in Riyadh
Unstoppable Al Hilal beat city rivals Al Riyadh 3-1 on Friday to reach another new milestone in a season that gets more remarkable by the week. The 27th straight win across the Saudi Pro League, King’s Cup and AFC Champions League fixtures equaled the record set by Welsh side The New Saints. Jorge Jesus’ juggernaut is showing no signs of slowing down, though his players were forced to dig deep to come from behind in the Saudi capital.
Al Riyadh secured an important win last week against fellow strugglers Al Akhdoud and carried that momentum into Friday night’s match, keeping its illustrious opponent at bay as Al Hilal was punished for resting stars such as Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Al Riyadh’s first-half shut-out included a fantastic penalty save from Martín Campaña to deny Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Then in the 55th minute, the hosts took the lead as Andre Gray’s right-wing cross was turned past his own goalkeeper by Ali al-Bulayhi. Al Riyadh celebrated but as it has done many times this season, Al Hilal was not finished. Ruben Neves came off the bench and took over penalty duties from Mitrovic, successfully converting to level things up, before Michael’s 75th-minute header put the league leaders ahead – the Brazilian cheekily mimicking Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Siuu’ celebration after scoring.
In stoppage time, Mitrovic was given the opportunity to make amends from the spot and this time made no mistake, rolling it into the bottom corner. With second-placed Al Nassr slipping up again, it meant Al Hilal extended its lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League to 12 points in what increasingly looks like a procession towards a 19th title.
Al Nassr slump continues
Cristiano Ronaldo returned from suspension for Al Nassr’s home clash with Al Raed but the Portuguese magician could not conjure up an influential performance as his side fell to a shock 3-1 defeat in Riyadh on Thursday. Coming just three days after a bruising AFC Champions League loss to Al Ain in the UAE, Luis Castro’s players were well below par against an opponent that has been fighting at the wrong end of the table for most of this season.
Ronaldo was not the only man back in the Al Nassr XI, with goalkeeper David Ospina making his first Saudi Pro League appearance since last January after a nightmare run of injuries. The Colombian had made his competitive return against Al Ain but it was to be a similarly disappointing story versus Al Raed, as Ospina’s teammates were overrun by their hungrier opponents.
Julio Tavares was a menace up front for Al Raed and created the opener, drawing Ospina towards him before sliding a pass across the box for Karim El Berkaoui to slot into an empty net. It was the Moroccan’s ninth Saudi Pro League goal of an impressive season. Al Nassr equalized five minutes later as Ronaldo’s spectacular volley crashed against the crossbar before falling to Ayman Yahya, who calmly chested down the rebound and poked the ball past.
It seemed as though Al Nassr would go on to exert its authority, but Al Raed continued to play with freedom and a minute after half-time was back in front as Amir Sayoud’s cross was swept in by Mohamed Fouzair. Sayoud then added a goal of his own, finishing impressively with his left foot after Al Raed has successfully repelled a series of Ronaldo-led attacks in the second half.
The result saw Al Raed stay two points clear of the relegation zone but move up to 13th place in the table, while Al Nassr are now just six points clear of third-placed Al Ahli and face a season-defining AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg against Al Ain in Riyadh on Monday night.
Al Ahli cement third spot
Al Ahli and Al Taawoun have both enjoyed fruitful campaigns so far, with both clubs staking a claim for third place at various points throughout the season. Right now, however, it is Ahli that is firmly closing in on AFC Champions League qualification after beating its rival away from home on Saturday.
The away form of Matthias Jaissle’s side has been nothing short of sensational in recent months, with his side losing just once on its travels since October. It was more of the same in Buraidah. When the two teams met earlier this season, Al Ahli edged an entertaining contest 3-2 but this was a much more attritional affair, slightly dominated by hosts Al Taawoun in terms of chances created.
The game remained goalless until the 82nd minute when Saudi Arabia striker Firas al-Buraikan pounced on a weak defensive header from Andrei Girotto before coolly slotting past Brazilian goalkeeper Maylson, handing Al Ahli a fourth away win in its past five games.
The 1-0 victory left Al Ahli seven points ahead of Al Ittihad and eight clear of Al Taawoun; next up for Jaissle’s team is Al Nassr and a win would take the Jeddah club to within three points of its opponents. For Al Taawoun, there is an opportunity to reassert itself with a seemingly favorable run of fixtures against three of the league’s bottom five sides ahead.
Haji makes history
Al Ittihad leapfrogged Al Taawoun into fourth place with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Al Akhdoud in Jeddah, a game that was significant because of the age of its match-winner. At 16 years and 175 days, precocious striker Talal Haji became the youngest goalscorer in Saudi Pro League history.
Haji was born in 2007, the same year current team-mate Karim Benzema won his third Ligue 1 title with Lyon. The teenager has broken records galore in recent months. He is the youngest player to ever play for the Saudi Arabia national team and in January became the youngest player in AFC Asian Cup history when Roberto Mancini brought him on as a substitute against Thailand.
Haji has been used sparingly by Al Ittihad this season as they look to integrate him gradually into the first team but he was brought off the bench by coach Marcello Gallardo as a much-changed side struggled to overcome Al Akhdoud. Karim Benzema, Fabinho and Abderrazzak Hamdallah were all left out with Al Ittihad having one eye on Monday’s AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg against Al Hilal in Jeddah.
Al Ittihad struck first against Al Akhdoud, Saad al-Mousa turning the ball home from close range after good work down the left by Saleh al-Amri. A stunning left-foot strike from Alex Collado brought the scores level at 1-1 but seven minutes from time, young substitute Haji had his milestone moment, courtesy of an acrobatic volley. Al Ittihad fans will be hoping it is the first of many.
