The Saudi Pro League kicks off tonight with Al-Ahli taking on Al-Hazm.
New Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle is hoping to win the league title this season, this is after the Saudi side were in the second tier in the Middle East following relegation from the Pro League in 2022, this is after the club were an everpresent in the top division.
Al-Ittihad, who kicked off the summer spending spree when they brought in Karim Benzema from Real Madrid, take on Al-Raed on Monday afternoon.
The Saudi side, who won the league title last season, will be hoping to retain the title but with sides around them spending a shedload of money, the title win will not be as easy.
Fabinho, N’Golo Kante, Jota from Celtic and Benzema, the Saudi side have more than a good chance of retaining the title.
Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq in action
Arguably the biggest game of the first gameweek is Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr who take on Al-Ettifaq, managed by Steven Gerrard and with Jordan Henderson in midfield for the Saudi side.
The game, which kicks off Monday night, will be the biggest of the season so far and a chance for Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr to put a marker down and instill fear into the other sides in the Saudi Pro League.
Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq may well struggle this season and haven’t spent the same amount on players as the other sides, this is mainly due to Gerrard’s side not being owned by the Public Investment Fund.
Al-Hilal hoping to win title
Despite a frustrating summer for the Saudi side, there is hope that Al-Hilal could well be one of the favourites for the title.
After signing Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea and Ruben Neves from Wolves, the Saudi side, who are the most successful side in the country, could well be favourites for the title. They take on Abha on Monday.
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