5 things to look out for as star-studded Saudi Pro League season kicks off
The 2023-24 Saudi Pro League season will get underway when Al-Ahli face Al-Hazm on Friday evening with UK viewers able to watch all the action on DAZN.
Al-Ahli, who are managed by ex-Red Bull Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle, are considered as part of the 'big four' in Saudi Arabia and have made some high-profile additions so far this summer. They have spent over £100million on transfers, with Riyad Mahrez the most expensive addition to their squad.
Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal are also in action over the weekend, while Steven Gerrard is set to take charge of Al-Ettifaq for the first time in a league match. Jordan Henderson, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante are among the others to have joined the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo out in the Middle-East.
With the Saudi Pro League opener fast approaching, Mirror Football have taken a look at five things to look out for on the opening weekend of the campaign.
Al-Ahli's rise
Having won promotion to the top tier last season, Al-Ahli are set to make their return to the Saudi Pro League when they kickstart the campaign against Al-Hazm at 7pm GMT on Friday. They are one of the favourites to win the title, however, having signed Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy among others.
All the details for Cristiano Ronaldo's next Saudi Pro League game for Al-Nassr
Allan Saint-Maximin has also made the mega-money switch from Newcastle, while Franck Kessie and Roger Ibanez make up their arrivals from European teams. Four Saudi-based players have also made the move on free transfers in a busy summer of change for Al-Ahli, who play their home matches at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Edouard Mendy has signed for Al-Ahli (Getty Images)Ronaldo vs Henderson
Arguably most high profile match of the opening weekend sees Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr travel to Al-Ettifaq, who boast Gerrard and Jordan Henderson among their ranks. The game is set to get underway at 7pm on Monday.
Al-Nassr finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season and are once again keen to fight for the title. Luis Castro's side have bolstered their squad with a number of big-name signings, including Sadio Mane after the Senegal international made the £34m move from Bayern Munich. Seko Fofana, Alex Telles and Marcelo Brozovic have also joined Al-Nassr this summer.
As for Al-Ettifaq, they finished seventh last season and will be hoping to improve on that after appointing Liverpool legend Gerrard as the club's new boss. Gerrard has managed to convince Henderson to leave Anfield and join the Saudi outfit, while Moussa Dembele has arrived to strengthen the forward line.
Cristiano Ronaldo is back in action on Monday (Getty Images)Al-Ittihad defend their title
After winning the Saudi Pro League last season, Al-Ittihad will begin their defence of the title when they travel to Al-Raed on Monday, with kick-off at 4pm. The Tigers, who also play at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, boast ex-Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo as their manager.
Espirito Santo has added to his already-talented squad this summer in the form of Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and N'Golo Kante from Chelsea. That isn't to mention the arrival of Fabinho and Jota from Liverpool and Celtic respectively. Al-Ittihad are going to take some stopping this season.
The best of the rest
The other "big four" side in action alongside Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad are Al-Hilal, who face Abha on Monday at 4pm. Al-Hilal are aiming to close in on the top-two after finishing second in 2022/23, having made some considerable signings to their squad, with Ruben Neves and Malcom the two most expensive.
(AFP via Getty Images)They are currently 75 per cent owned by Public Investment Fund and have one of the biggest budgets in the division. Their manager, Jorge Jesus, has also added to his ranks with the arrivals of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Kalidou Koulibaly as they prepare to challenge for the table.
Other fixtures on the opening weekend see Al-Ta'ee face Damac, Al Feiha host Al-Khaleej, Al-Taawoun travel to Al Fateh, Al-Riyadh take on Al-Wehda and Al-Shabab play Al Akhdoud.
New TV deal
Fans in the United Kingdom can now watch the Saudi Pro League after they struck a deal with sports broadcaster DAZN to show every match live this season - starting with Al-Ahli's clash against Al-Hazm. DAZN will also show Saudi Arabian games live in Germany.
Ronaldo hits new landmark as Al-Nassr four-goal haul puts him in elite company
Sky Sports showed games involving Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr on their YouTube channel last season but the viewership figures were considered unimpressive. Discussions had taken place over Sky potentially taking the rights this season again but no formal offer was made, leaving DAZN open to secure a deal.
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