A New Season of Excitement and Stars in the Saudi League

The excitement of the Saudi Football League, which captivated the world’s attention last season, returns with the launch of a new season expected to be filled with thrilling matches, especially with the arrival of more world-class stars.

Defending champions Al-Hilal will kick off their campaign by hosting Al-Akhdood on Saturday, while their runner-up, Al-Nasr, led by Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, will face Al-Raed on Thursday in the opening round.

Al-Hilal enters the season opener on a high, having secured the local Super Cup title with a resounding 4-1 victory over Al-Nasr last Sunday, marking their fifth triumph in the competition’s history.

“Al-Zaeem” (The Boss) aims to retain the league title they claimed last season after collecting 96 points, finishing a commanding 14 points clear of their nearest rivals.

Despite losing key players like captain Salman Al-Faraj, Brazilian winger Michel Delgado, and attacking midfielder Matheus Pereira, Al-Hilal maintained their technical stability under Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus. They are also bolstered by the return of Brazilian star Neymar, who missed last season due to injury.

Meanwhile, Al-Nasr is eager to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Al-Hilal, a loss that triggered the resignation of club president Ibrahim Al-Muhaidib and left fans discontented.

The team will be without winger Ayman Yahya for the first match, as he sustained a severe injury in the Super Cup clash, sidelining him for four weeks. Al-Nasr has strengthened their squad with the signings of Brazilian goalkeeper Pinto and Al-Fateh winger Salem Al-Najdi, as they look to shake off last season’s disappointments. The club remains active in the summer transfer market, seeking to further reinforce their roster.

Al-Ahly, who finished third last season, will take on Al-Orouba, a club returning to the top flight for the first time since the 2014-2015 season.

Al-Ahly made just one significant signing, bringing in Brazilian Alexander da Costa Gomes from Fluminense. However, they lost French striker Alain Saint-Maximin to Turkish club Fenerbahce and Brazilian player Marcao, who joined Kocaelispor on loan. Despite these departures, Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié remain key figures in the squad.

Al-Ittihad, under the guidance of French coach Laurent Blanc, will visit newly promoted Al-Khuloud on Saturday.

Al-Ittihad has been the most active club in the transfer market, securing the services of French winger Moussa Diaby from Aston Villa, Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar from Roma, Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajković, Moaz Faqihi, Saleh Al-Shehri, and goalkeeper Hamed Al-Shanqeeti. They have also retained their stars Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, and Fabinho.

However, the team has seen significant departures, including Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe, who moved to Al-Khuloud, Brazilian forward Romarinho, Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazy, and Moroccan striker Abdel Razzaq Hamdallah. Additionally, veteran defender Omar Hawsawi announced his retirement.