Although Neymar is out of combat and on a tightrope, the Al-Hilal leads the table Saudi Pro League with 28 points in 10 games thanks to a stellar Aleksandr Mitrovic. He Al-Ittihad of Karim Benzema is lurking with a single point less. However, the great attraction of the league remains Cristiano Ronaldothe great star of Al-Nassrthird classified with 22 points.
If many fans follow the MLS by Leo Messi and his Inter Miamithe same thing also happens with Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al-Nassr in Arabia. The country’s investment in recent years to attract audiences from all over the world has been scandalous and the teams have improved their level thanks to the undeniable contribution of footballers from the Old Continent who have managed to seduce with tickets.
After finishing his contract with Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo landed in Arabia in January 2023months before the spectacular boom of signings in summer, and He finished the season with 35 goals in 31 games, being the competition’s top scorer. with a coefficient of 1.12 targets per match. In terms of assists, he signed 11, just two behind the best in the league, Riyad Mahrez, with 13 assists on goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo, during a match with Al-Nassr / @Cristiano
Despite this, the Portuguese’s contribution was not enough to win the domestic championship and his Al-Nassr finished second with 82 points, light years behind the champion, Al-Hilal, with 96 points.s. This year, it is the same team that leads the table, but the feeling that really exists is that the team to beat in Arabia is Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and the Portuguese is the footballer to beat in individual statistics. Everyone wants to get over it.
MITROVIC OPPOSES ‘PICHICHI’
This season, the records of the former Real Madrid player have dropped significantly. With six goals in nine games, the same as his teammate Anderson Talisca, he is two goals behind Karim Benzema, eight goals in eight games and four behind Aleksandr Mitrovic, who has 12 in ten games. Subtracting the penalty goals, Cristiano Ronaldo would have only scored two goals.
Aleksandr Mitrovic, celebrating a goal with Al-Hilal / Instagram
The Serbian was the main opponent last year in the fight to be Saudi’s top scorer. This campaign, he seems ready to take the crown from the Portuguese. In terms of assists, Cristiano has only served two, too far from Moussa Diaby’s 10 or Sadio Mané’s five.his partner in Al-Nassr.
MANY CANDIDATES IN THE LEAGUE
Last summer, the Al-Nassr He tried to shore up a team that already had Aymeric Laporte, Marcelo Brozovic, Otávio, Anderson Talisca and Sadio Mané, in addition to Cristiano Ronaldo, in order to win the league that eluded them last season. They signed Mohamed Simakan (35 million euros), Wesley (18 million euros) and Ángelo Gabriel (23 million euros). However, the team led by Stefano Pioli, formerly of Milan, occupies third position in the table.
Cristiano celebrates with his teammates / @Cristiano
The current champion, Al-Hilalit was also with everything this summer. To their squad, which already had players like Bono, Kalidou Koulibaly, Rúben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Neymar, Malcom and Aleksandr Mitrovic, they added Renan Lodi (23 million euros), Joao Cancelo (25 million euros) and Marcos Leonardo (40 million euros). The result, a highly contested first place with the Al-Ittihad.
Malcom, one of the best players in Arabia / Al Hilal
Only one point away is the team led by Karim Benzema, accompanied by Fabinho and N’Golo Kanté, which was reinforced with several impressive names: Predrag Rajkovic (8 million euros), Danilo Pereira (5 million euros), Houssem Aouar (12 million euros), Steven Bergwijn (21 million euros) and Moussa Diaby (60 million euros).
Karim Benzema, jugador del Al Ittihad / Twitter: @ittihad_en
Finally, something unnoticed, cannot be overlooked Al Ahlyinstalled in eighth position with 14 points, but could surprise if Matthias Jaissle is able to find the key to make his stars shine.
Mahrez and Firmino, stars of Al Ahli / ‘X’
Merih Demiral, Roger Ibáñez, Gabri Veiga, Edouard Méndy and Franck Kessié are the names of the team led by Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino, who now have the help of Ivan Toney since August (42 million euros) to begin to comply with the expectations they promise. Who will take the lead?
