2019–20 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League

The 2019–20 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League was the third season of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League under its current name, and 43rd season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 20 August 2019 and concluded on 20 September 2020.[1] Fixtures for the 2019–20 season were announced on 14 July 2019.[2] Al-Batin won the title, with Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ain following in second and third respectively.

Prince Mohammad bin Salman League
Season2019–20
Dates20 August 2019 – 20 September 2020
ChampionsAl-Batin
PromotedAl-Batin
Al-Qadsiah
Al-Ain
RelegatedAl-Mujazzal
Al-Taqadom
Al-Ansar
Hetten
Matches played380
Goals scored975 (2.57 per match)
Top goalscorerOusmane Barry
(27 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Bukayriyah 7–1 Al-Nojoom
(23 October 2019)
Al-Qadsiah 6–0 Al-Ansar
(15 January 2020)
Al-Thoqbah 7–1 Hetten
(18 February 2020)
Biggest away winAl-Taqadom 0–5 Ohod
(13 November 2019)
Highest scoringAl-Bukayriyah 7–1 Al-Nojoom
(23 October 2019)
Al-Kawkab 3–5 Al-Qadsiah
(5 February 2020)
Al-Thoqbah 7–1 Hetten
(18 February 2020)
Hetten 3–5 Al-Qadsiah
(5 September 2020)
Longest winning run6 matches
Al-Qadsiah
Ohod
Longest unbeaten run13 matches
Al-Ain
Longest winless run13 matches
Al-Taqadom
Longest losing run6 matches
Al-Nojoom
Hetten
All statistics correct as of 20 September 2020.

On 7 March 2020, the Ministry of Sports announced that all matches would be played behind closed doors until further notice.[3] On 14 March 2020, the Ministry suspended all sports competitions indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.[4] On 11 June 2020, the Ministry of Sports announced the resumption of sports activities with training starting on 21 June and games starting after 4 August 2020 and played behind closed doors.[5] On 1 July 2020, the schedule for the remaining matches was released. It was announced that the league would resume on 4 August 2020 and end on 20 September 2020.[6]

Overview edit

Rule changes edit

On 9 June 2019, the SAFF announced that the numbers of foreign players were decreased from 7 players to 4 players.[7]

Teams edit

A total of 20 teams are contesting the league, including 13 sides from the 2018–19 season, 4 promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Pro League.

The first team to be relegated to the MS League was Ohod, ending a 2-year stay in the Pro League following a 3–1 home defeat to Al-Fayha on 12 April 2019.[8] The second team to be relegated was Al-Batin, ending a 3-year stay in the Pro League following a 1–0 home defeat to an already relegated Ohod side on 11 May 2019.[9] The third and final team to be relegated was Al-Qadsiah, who were relegated on the final matchday following a 2–2 home draw with Al-Hazem. Al-Qadsiah were relegated after 4 consecutive seasons in the Pro League.[10]

The first club to be promoted was Al-Bukayriyah who were promoted following a 1–1 away draw against Al-Jandal on 16 March 2019.[11] The second club to be promoted was Hetten following a 2–0 home win against Afif on 29 March 2019.[12] The third club to be promoted was Al-Thoqbah who were promoted following a 3–1 home win against Arar on 29 March 2019.[13] The fourth and final club to be promoted was Al-Taqadom who were promoted on the final matchday following a 3–0 home win against Al-Muzahimiyyah.[14]

Hetten were promoted as the winners of the Second Division and Al-Bukayriyah were promoted as the runners-up.[15] Al-Thoqbah defeated Al-Taqadom in the third-place playoffs.

Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Taqadom, and Al-Thoqbah will play in the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League for the first time in their history. Hetten will play in their 8th overall season in the MS League. This will be their first season in the MS League following their relegation in the 2014–15 season.

Team changes edit

The following teams have changed division since the 2019–20 season.

Stadia and locations edit

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-Ain Al-Atawilah King Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah) 10,000[16]
Al-Ansar Medina Al-Ansar Club Stadium 5,000[17]
Al-Batin Hafar al-Batin Al-Batin Club Stadium 6,000[18]
Al-Bukayriyah Al Bukayriyah Al-Bukayriyah Club Stadium 3,000[19]
Al-Jabalain Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000[20]
Al-Jeel Al-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium [1] 26,000[21]
Al-Kawkab Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200[22]
Al-Khaleej Saihat Al-Khaleej Club Stadium 10,000[23]
Al-Mujazzal Al-Majma'ah Al-Majma'ah City Stadium 7,000[24]
Al-Nahda Dammam Prince Fahd bin Salman Stadium [2] 15,000[25]
Al-Nojoom Al-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium [3] 26,000[21]
Al-Qadsiah Khobar Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium [4] 15,000[26]
Al-Shoulla Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200[22]
Al-Tai Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000[20]
Al-Taqadom Al Mithnab Al-Najma Club Stadium (Unaizah) 3,000[27]
Al-Thoqbah Khobar Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium [5] 15,000[26]
Hetten Samtah King Faisal Sport City Stadium (Jizan) 10,000[28]
Jeddah Jeddah Reserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City 1,000[29]
Najran Najran Najran Sport City Stadium 18,000
Ohod Medina Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 24,000[30]

1: ^ Al-Jeel and Al-Nojoom also use Al-Fateh Club Stadium (7,000 seats) as a home stadium.
2: ^ Al-Nahda, Al-Qadsiah and Al-Thoqbah also use Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium (35,000 seats) as a home stadium.

Foreign players edit

The number of foreign players is limited to 4 per team.[31]

Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Former Players
Al-Ain   Soualio Ouattara   Peter Nworah   Haythem Jouini   Youssef Fouzai   Yassine Lakhal
  Aboubacar Sylla
Al-Ansar   Hamza Aït Ouamar   Baraka   Richard Baffour   Ricardinho
  David Ochieng
  Marouane Fakhr
  Saith Sakala
Al-Batin   Lassina Diaby   Bader Hassan   Mehdi Ressaissi   Seddik Majeri
Al-Bukayriyah   Martial Yao   Ousmane Barry   Okiemute Odah   Mahmoud Ben Salah   Paul Onobi
Al-Jabalain   Carlão   Diego Miranda   Pitty   António Filipe   Hacène Ogbi
  Zurab Tsiskaridze
Al-Jeel   Francisco Pereira [ar]   Sidevaldo Pereira [ar]   Houssem Tabboubi   Yassine Boufalgha   Douglas Caé
Al-Kawkab   Emmanuel Banahene   Chaker Rguiî   Youness Lacchab [ar]
  Sergio Moreno
  Chiheb Jebali
  Mohamed Houssem Slimène
Al-Khaleej   Zakaria Haddouche   Ulrich Kapolongo   Latif Amadu   Samuel Sarfo   Victor Golas
  Bessam
Al-Mujazzal   Ronald Ngah   Mahmoud Al-Youssef   Hocine El Orfi
  Hossin Lagoun
  Alexander Christovão
  Abuda
  Cléber Prado
  Jefferson Baiano
  Mamadou Konaté
  Chris Gadi
Al-Nahda   Cheibane Traoré   Alaeddine Abbès   Hachem Abbès   Lassaâd Jaziri
Al-Nojoom   Wesley Motuca   Tafsir Chérif   Franco Güity   Ousmane Faye   Douglas da Silva Cruz [ar]
  Gugu Vieira
  Wesley Santos
Al-Qadsiah   Jack Duncan   Rhys Williams   Mahdi Al-Humaidan   Stanley Ohawuchi   Andy Keogh
Al-Shoulla   Mamadou Soro   Sylla Daouda   Abdulwahab Annan   Isah Aliyu   Amine Mhadhebi
  Khaled Gharsellaoui
Al-Tai   Kheireddine Boussouf   Patrick Mevoungou   Dudu
  Pitty
  Jorge Silva
  Eddie Hernández
Al-Taqadom   Guillaume Daho   Mahmoud El Ghazali   Shehab El-Din Ahmed   Lester Peltier   Alain Zoe
  Gaber Salem
  Ousmane Diabaté
Al-Thoqbah   Ichaka Diarra   Amir Omrani   Oussema Amdouni   Moïse Zongo
  Lucas Michel
  Boubacar Cissokho
  Tarek Kodhai
Hetten   Diego Lima   Jurica Buljat   Ishmael Yartey   Macauley Chrisantus   Pingo
  Abdoulaye Ba
  Houssem Tabboubi
  Mossaâb Sassi
  Slim Bacha
Jeddah   Ibrahim Diomandé [ar]   Helton   Johann Lengoualama   Modou Jobe   Hassan Wasswa
Najran   Carlos Coppetti   Carlos Henrique   Oumarou Kaina   Gbolahan Salami   Patrick Vieira
  Boubacar Diarra
  Shadi Al Hamwi
Ohod   Abderaouf Natèche   Hacène Ogbi   Chiheb Zoghlami   Houssem Eddine Sdiri
  Baha' Abdel-Rahman
  Muhamed Keita
  Hichem Essifi

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Batin (C, P) 38 22 10 6 52 28 +24 76 Promotion to the Pro League
2 Al-Qadsiah (P) 38 21 12 5 71 38 +33 75
3 Al-Ain (P) 38 19 15 4 57 29 +28 72
4 Al-Bukayriyah 38 17 13 8 65 41 +24 64
5 Al-Nahda 38 16 12 10 55 47 +8 60
6 Ohod 38 15 12 11 51 42 +9 57[a]
7 Al-Jabalain 38 15 12 11 56 39 +17 57[a]
8 Jeddah 38 15 9 14 49 49 0 54
9 Al-Thoqbah 38 14 11 13 61 46 +15 53
10 Al-Tai 38 12 12 14 40 38 +2 48[b]
11 Najran 38 12 12 14 49 51 −2 48[b]
12 Al-Shoulla 38 11 14 13 43 44 −1 47
13 Al-Jeel 38 12 10 16 38 52 −14 46
14 Al-Kawkab 38 11 12 15 39 47 −8 45
15 Al-Khaleej 38 10 14 14 45 50 −5 44
16 Al-Nojoom 38 10 11 17 44 62 −18 41
17 Al-Mujazzal (R) 38 11 6 21 37 64 −27 39 Relegation to the Second Division
18 Al-Taqadom (R) 38 10 8 20 42 66 −24 38
19 Al-Ansar (R) 38 9 8 21 34 62 −28 35
20 Hetten (R) 38 8 7 23 47 80 −33 31
Updated to match(es) played on 20 September 2020. Source: goalzz.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Fair-play points (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[32]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Ohod finished ahead of Al-Jabalain on head-to-head goal difference: Al-Jabalain 1–3 Ohod, Ohod 0–1 Al-Jabalain.
  2. ^ a b Al-Tai finished ahead of Najran on overall goal difference: Al-Tai +2, Najran –2 (Al-Tai 0–2 Najran, Najran 1–3 Al-Tai).

Positions by round edit

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
Al-Batin2010578488744555533222323443222221111111
Al-Qadsiah51111111111122212333232334453333333322
Al-Ain65352266533211121111111112111112222233
Al-Bukayriyah161515106379987443346976555565534444444444
Al-Nahda4914161816104465776685788666656666666666665
Ohod1317181314105581111691010711844444221345555555556
Al-Jabalain1213171110119111110996776461110887777789101099109777
Jeddah9181919201513161816121411131391011999108999877778887888
Al-Thoqbah1436895232223344585557710888998887778999
Al-Tai3842463235810128810746710911121212121210991111910101110
Najran81111141314151010910131311111212131315131212111011101112121212121212121211
Al-Shoulla1816912111214121412131189911910101112119101110111011111110101111111012
Al-Jeel2484781213121415121415161617161512141313131313131313131313141315131313
Al-Kawkab1226374767681012121313141413111415141415151514141414131513141514
Al-Khaleej71473591114151716171614151515121214151514151514141415151515151414151415
Al-Nojoom1012161817202020202020201918181918191920202020192019171819191918171819181616
Al-Mujazzal1119202016191919191919192020202020202019191919201918191717171819201918171817
Al-Taqadom1720121719181615131517181819191716171616171717171720202020202020191717161718
Al-Ansar19713912131717161314161716141414151718181818181816161616161616161616191919
Hetten156101515171818171818151517171819181817161616161617181918181717182020202020
Leader
Promotion to the Pro League
Relegation to the Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 20 September 2020. Source: [citation needed]

Results edit

Home \ Away AIN ANS BAT BUK JAB JEL KAW KHJ MUJ NAH NOJ QAD SHO TAI TAQ THO HET JED NAJ OHD
Al-Ain 3–0 0–0 0–2 2–1 4–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 6–1 2–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–0
Al-Ansar 2–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–2 1–2 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 0–1 3–0 0–2 0–2
Al-Batin 0–0 2–0 3–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 4–1 1–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 3–1 1–1
Al-Bukayriyah 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 5–0 0–2 2–3 2–1 7–1 3–3 3–1 1–2 2–0 2–0 0–1 1–3 3–1 1–0
Al-Jabalain 2–2 2–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–1 1–3 4–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 3–0 3–0 1–1 1–3
Al-Jeel 1–1 2–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–0 0–2 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 1–2 1–2 0–2
Al-Kawkab 1–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–2 2–2 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–0 3–5 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 5–2 1–2 0–0 2–2
Al-Khaleej 0–0 2–2 0–2 0–0 2–1 2–0 4–3 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–3 0–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–3 2–1 2–3 1–3
Al-Mujazzal 0–1 0–1 1–2 1–2 0–4 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–1 1–5 0–1 4–1 1–0 2–3 0–1 0–1 1–0 3–1 1–3
Al-Nahda 2–2 1–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–1 1–0 3–3 1–2 3–0 2–2 0–2 3–1 4–1 2–1 2–2 2–0 2–1
Al-Nojoom 0–1 2–1 1–3 0–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–2 1–3 1–0 1–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–0
Al-Qadsiah 2–2 6–0 3–1 1–1 2–1 5–1 1–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 3–2 3–2 0–1 3–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–1
Al-Shoulla 0–1 0–3 0–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 5–0 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 2–3
Al-Tai 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–3 1–1 3–0 0–1 3–3 3–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 5–0 1–2 0–2 1–1
Al-Taqadom 1–1 3–0 0–1 0–4 2–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–0 1–1 1–3 5–2 1–0 0–1 0–5
Al-Thoqbah 0–2 5–1 2–1 4–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–3 0–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 7–1 1–1 0–0 0–0
Hetten 2–2 5–0 1–2 1–3 0–3 0–1 2–0 1–1 3–0 0–1 1–3 3–5 2–2 1–1 0–1 2–5 2–1 2–2 2–3
Jeddah 3–2 2–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–0 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–0 1–0 0–1 2–0 0–3 5–2 1–2 0–1
Najran 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–2 1–2 4–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 0–0 0–1 1–3 2–3 4–3 1–0 3–2 0–1
Ohod 1–2 1–3 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 3–2 0–0 0–1 5–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–1
Updated to match(es) played on 20 September 2020. Source: goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season progress edit

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
Al-AinWDWDWDLDWWDWWDLDWWWWWDDDWDWWDDWLWDWWLD
Al-AnsarLWLWLDLLDWDLLWWDLLLLLDLLLWWWLDLWLDDLLL
Al-BatinLWWDDWLDWDWWWLDWWWWDLWDDWWWLWDWWWWWLWD
Al-BukayriyahLDDWWWLLDWDWWDWDLLLWWDWWDWWWDWLDLDWDWD
Al-JabalainDDLWDDWLDWDDWDLWWLLWWLWDWDDLLLDWLLWWWW
Al-JeelWDDWLDLDDLDWLLWLLWDWLWLWLDDWDLLLLWLWWL
Al-KawkabWWDLWLWLWLDDLDWDLLLDWLLDDLLLWDDDWLWDLW
Al-KhaleejDDWWDLLLLDDLDWDLWWDLLWDLLWLDLDLDWWDDWL
Al-MujazzalDLLLWLLWLLDLLLLLDWDWLLWLLWLDWWLLLWDWLW
Al-NahdaWLLLWDWWWLDDDWLLWDDWWDWWWLWWDLDLLDDWDW
Al-NojoomDDLLDLLDLLWDDWLLWLLLLLDWLWDLDDDWWLLWWW
Al-QadsiahWWDWLWWWWDDDDDWWLLDWWDWLWDDDWWLDWWWWWW
Al-ShoullaLDWDDLDWLDDWWDDDWDDLLWWLLWLWLWDWLLLDDL
Al-TaiWLWWLDWWLLLLDWLDWWWLLDLDLLDWWWDDDDDLLD
Al-TaqadomLLWLLDWDWLLLLLWWWLLLLDLDLLLLLDDWWWDWLD
Al-ThoqbahDWDDDWWLWWDLWLLDLWWDDLLWWLDDWLWDWLLLLW
HettenLWLLDLLWDDDWLLLLLWWLWDLLLLLLWLWLDDLLLL
JeddahDLDLLWWLLWWDWDDWDLWWDLWLWLWWDLWLWLDLWL
NajranDDDLWDDWDWLLDWWDLLLLWWLWWLWLLDWDLDLLWD
OhodDLDWDWWDLDDWLDWWLWWDWWWWWWLLLWDDLDDLLL
Updated to match(es) played on 20 September 2020. Source: [citation needed]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose

Statistics edit

As of 20 September 2020