“When does the Saudi Professional League begin?” That has hardly ever been a sizzling query within the collective psyche of the footballing world.
All that’s about to vary. Saudi Arabia’s home competitors has come on the worldwide soccer scene with a mission to assemble all-star squads this switch window.
Exorbitant salaries have been supplied to lure the cream of European soccer to the Gulf nation.
In consequence, there’s elevated curiosity within the Saudi Professional League, as followers are wanting to know when and the way they’ll observe their favorite footballers.
Right here’s all you should know-
When does the Saudi Professional League begin?
The Saudi Professional League begins on August 11 with a fixture between Al-Ahli and Al-Hazem.
Will probably be Al-Ahli’s first recreation after promotion again to the primary tier. This recreation will likely be notable for the potential debuts of two former Premier League stars.
Ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Liverpool favorite Roberto Firmino had been secured by Al-Ahli in assertion signings and each are anticipated to play a component right here.
They’re overwhelming favourites for this one in opposition to Al-Hazem, who’re one of many golf equipment left behind within the spending frenzy in Saudi.
The reigning Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema will make his debut on August 14 in opposition to Al-Raed.
The fixture to be careful for on the primary matchday is the conflict between Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq and Al Nassr, who began the insanity with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo.
By then, Gerrard might need Jordan Henderson to name upon if a charge might be agreed with Liverpool.
Saudi Professional League format
The Saudi Professional League consists of 16 groups. House and away fixture for every implies that there are 30 matchdays with a win value three factors and a draw value one.
Nevertheless, in the beginning of the 2022/23 season, it was introduced that the 2023/24 season could have 18 groups as a substitute of 16. Consequently, 4 groups had been promoted from the second division whereas solely two had been relegated- Al Adalah and Al-Batin.
Subsequently, the upcoming season would be the first in Professional League with 34 matchdays, equalling Bundesliga.
Within the revised format, the underside three groups will likely be relegated.
The winner qualifies for the Membership World Cup hosted by FIFA and likewise earns direct qualification to the AFC Champions League Group Stage.
Reigning champion and gamers to be careful for
Al-Ittihad are the reigning champions of the Roshn Saudi League. Former Wolves supervisor Nuno Espirito Santo’s aspect pipped Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr to the title by 5 factors final season.
They’re anticipated to start this season as favourites once more after securing Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante. Jota, acquired from Celtic, provides some youthful exuberance to the aged European imports.
Nuno has obtained the aspect taking part in to his tune and with a sprinkling of stardust on a settled workforce, they are going to be a drive to be reckoned with.
Al-Nassr can even anticipate to be proper up there as reinforcements have arrived for Cristiano Ronaldo within the type of Marcelo Brozovic. Nevertheless, different sides have arguably strengthened higher.
Chief amongst them are Al-Ahli, who could have in all probability one of the best midfield within the competitors. In Ruben Neves and Sergei Milikovic-Savic, they beat the pattern of signing growing older superstars and acquired two gamers of their prime as a substitute.
These two would in all probability stroll into most European elites and as such signify an enormous coup for Al-Ahli. Anticipate them to battle for the title after ending 13 factors behind the eventual winners final time.
