Asia’s strongest league, a far cry from the Chinese Super League, kicked off at 3am on the 12th.
The 23-24 Saudi Pro League heats up the summer transfer market. The Saudi Pro League is the league that attracted the attention of football fans in the middle of last season when the ‘man of record’ Cristiano Ronaldo moved to the league.토토사이트
This summer, the league began a full-fledged superstar recruitment drive, starting with 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and adding N’Golo Kante, Robert Firmino, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez.
Al Ahly have also made a splash by bringing together Riyad Mahrez, Robert Firmino, Edouard Mendy and Alain Saint-Maximilien, all of whom played for different Premier League clubs.
It’s unclear if the signings have paid off, but Al Ahli eased to a 3-1 win over Al Hajj in the 3am kick-off on 12 December, with Firmino netting a hat-trick.
The most anticipated match of the first round of the 23-24 Saudi Pro League is the clash between Al Etihad and Al Nasr, which kicks off at 3am on Tuesday 15th. Since the appointment of ‘Liverpool legend’ Steven Gerrard as manager, Al Etihad have signed former Liverpool captain midfielder Jordan Henderson and Lyon striker Mousa Dembele. Can Al Etihad, who haven’t won the league since 1987, show a different side under Gerrard?
Al Nasr, who finished second last season despite having Ronaldo, have strengthened this summer with the signings of Mane, Marcelo Brozovic and Alex Telles. With Al Nasr challenging for the league title for the first time in five years, it will be interesting to see if they can capitalise on their ‘storming recruitment’, while Ronaldo, who scored 14 goals last season despite joining midway through the campaign, can become the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League.
Photo via Al Ittihad Official Social Media
Defending champions Al Ittihad start the season stronger than ever.
Defending champions Al Ahli, coached by Nuno Santu, who previously coached Heung-min Son at Tottenham, are set to challenge for a second consecutive season with three players who have experience of winning the big one in the UEFA Champions League – Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho.
Al Ittihad, who are aiming to return to the top of the table, will host Al Rahda in their opening game on Tuesday 15 January at 0am.
Meanwhile, Al Ittihad-Al Nasr, which will feature Ronaldo and Benzema, will meet on 14 December and the season finale on 27 May 2024.
Featuring a host of football superstars, including Ronaldo and Benzema, the key matches of the 23-24 Saudi Pro League will be broadcast exclusively on sports OTT service SPOTV NOW. Live TV coverage will be available on SPOTV ON, SPOTV ON2 and SPOTV Prime.