Al Hilal continued their undefeated streak in the Saudi Professional League as they strengthened their grip at the top of the Saudi Pro League table when they defeated Al Taee 2 – 1 away at the Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa’ed Stadium in match week 16 of the SPL.
Close on their heels, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr smashed Al Riyadh 4 – 1 at their home ground Al Awal Park at King Saud University to remain in second place. Al Akhdoud, Abha, and Al Hazm occupy the bottom 3 positions of the Saudi Pro League table as they all deal with nightmare starts to the season.
Here’s a look back at the key moments in the Saudi Professional League (GW16):
Al Hilal are 16 games undefeated and still going strong
Without Neymar Jr., Al Hilal sits top of the Saudi Professional League table after an undefeated start to their season that has seen them collect 44 points from 16 games played with 14 wins, 2 draws, and zero losses. They have scored 48 goals, the highest in the league, and conceded just 9 times, the fewest in the league in these 16 games. Salem Al Dawsari (20′) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (Pen 30′)struck twice for Al Hilal to win as Al Tae tried to claw back into the game with a Tariq Abdu goal.
Also Read: Saudi Pro League Highlights: Key Moment from Gameweek 15
Cristiano Ronaldo is still a force to be reckoned with at Al Nassr FC
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his fine scoring form as he opened the scoring for Al Nassr on 31′ minutes, which was followed by a goal by Otavio and an Anderson Talisca brace. Andre Gray scored the only goal of the game for Al Riyadh. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr FC are second at the top of the Saudi Pro League and have 37 points from 16 games played with 12 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses. They have scored 43 goals and conceded 19 times in their 16 games.
Al Ahli Saudi toothless against Al Raed drift further away from the top
Roberto Firmino’s Al Ahli Saudi was involved in a goalless draw with Al Raed at the King Fahd Sports City stadium this Saturday. Al Ahli Jeddah drifted further away from Al Nassr FC at the top of the table as they succumbed to a 0 – 0 draw at home to Al-Raed this Saturday and they have 9 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses from their 16 games played. They have scored 32 times and conceded 19 times in the past 16 games.
Al–Taawon hammer Al Feiha at home
Al Taawon blitzed Al Feiha at home to win 4 – 1 in a victory that saw them climb up to 4th in the table. They have scored 28 and conceded 15 of their 16 games and have 9 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses overall in their campaign. Mateus (15′), Ashraf El Mahdioui (Pen 40′), Musa Barrow (62′), and Abdulfattah Adam (84′)scored 4 for Al Taawon in reply to Al Feiha’s 6th-minute goal from Fashion Sakala.
Al Akhdoud season may fall apart soon
Abdulaziz Noor Sheik (16′) and Oscar Duarte (84′) scored for Al Wehda Mecca as they scored an easy win over rivals Al Akhdoud. Al Akhdoud are 16th and have 13 points from their 16 games played with 4 wins, 1 draw, and 11 losses. They have a goal difference of negative 14 with just 11 goals scored (the fewest in the league) and 25 conceded.
Poor discipline grabs the headlines as Al Shabab & Al Ettifaq draw
Al Shabab had a poor match with two of their men sent off- E. Banega and G. Cuellar while Al Ettifaq had D. Gray sent off in a boring match that saw no goals and 3 red cards.
Al Hazm remains bottom despite Al Fateh’s victory
Al Hazm might still be rock bottom of the Saudi Pro League but they picked up a much-needed victory over Al Fateh this past game week 16. Bruno Viana scored on 5′ minutes to give Al Hazm the early lead and Toze drove home a penalty in 14′ minutes to secure the victory. Al Hazm made the bottom 3 in 18th position in the league, having gathered just 11 points from their 16 games played with 2 wins, 5 draws, and 9 losses. They have a goal difference of minus 24 with just 17 goals scored and 41 conceded.
Al Khaleej piles on the misery for Abha
Al Khaleej scored 3 via Fabio Martins (16′), Mohamed Sherif (45+3′), and Ivo Rodrigues (59′) and had a man sent off – F. Martinsin an entertaining match that also saw Abha score a consolation goal with Zakaria Sami Al Sudani. Abha is 17th in the league and they also have 13 points from their 16 games played with 4 wins, 1 draw, and 11 losses. Abha has a goal difference of negative 22 with 18 goals scored and 40 conceded.
Damac and Al Ittihad Jeddah play out an entertaining mid-table clash
6th placed Damac Club narrowed the gap on 5th placed Al Ittihad Jeddah with their 3 – 1 victory as Georges-Kevin Nkoudou scored twice and Marcelo Grohe conceded an own goal. Abderazak Hamed-Allah got a consolation goal for Al Ittihad Jeddah.