The 2022–23 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) was the second season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 46th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 22 August 2022 and concluded on 29 May 2023.[1]
| Season | 2022–23 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 22 August 2022 – 29 May 2023 |
| Champions | Al-Ahli (1st title) |
| Promoted | Al-Ahli Al-Okhdood Al-Hazem Al-Riyadh |
| Relegated | Najran Al-Sahel Al-Shoulla |
| Matches played | 306 |
| Goals scored | 709 (2.32 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Ablaye Mbengue (29 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Al-Shoulla 3–0 Al-Orobah (22 August 2022) Al-Hazem 4–1 Najran (5 September 2022) Al-Ahli 3–0 Ohod (16 September 2022) Al-Hazem 3–0 Al-Arabi (11 January 2023) Al-Ahli 3–0 Al-Jabalain (24 January 2023) Al-Qadsiah 3–0 Ohod (16 May 2023) Al-Faisaly 4–1 Al-Ain (23 May 2023) Al-Okhdood 4–1 Najran (29 May 2023) |
| Biggest away win | Al-Shoulla 0–5 Al-Jabalain (28 December 2022) |
| Highest scoring | Al-Riyadh 3–3 Al-Arabi (6 March 2023) Al-Okhdood 4–2 Al-Orobah (9 April 2023) Jeddah 2–4 Al-Okhdood (24 April 2023) |
| Longest winning run | Al-Riyadh (8 matches) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Al-Ahli (16 matches) |
| Longest winless run | Al-Shoulla (26 matches) |
| Longest losing run | Al-Shoulla (8 matches) |
← 2021–22 2023–24 →
All statistics correct as of 29 May 2023. | |
On 5 May, Al-Ahli became the first team to be promoted following Al-Faisaly's 2–2 draw with Najran.[2] They were crowned champions following a 1–0 win against Al-Qadsiah on 23 May.[3] The second club to be promoted was Al-Okhdood who were promoted after Al-Faisaly's 2–2 draw with Jeddah on 15 May.[4] The third club to be promoted was Al-Riyadh who were promoted following a 1–0 home win against Al-Orobah.[5] The fourth and final club to be promoted was Al-Hazem who were promoted following a 3–2 win against Al-Sahel.[6]
On 1 May, Al-Shoulla became the first team to be relegated following Jeddah's 1–0 win against Al-Orobah.[7] On 23 May, Al-Sahel became the second team to be relegated despite a 3–2 win against Al-Okhdood.[8] Najran became the third and final club to be relegated after a 4–1 defeat to derby rivals Al-Okhdood on the final matchday.[9]
Overview edit
Changes edit
On 9 October 2020, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the league would be decreased to 18 starting from the 2022–23 season. Due to this decision, 5 teams were relegated last season instead of the usual 4 teams. In addition, only 3 teams were promoted from the Second Division instead of 4 teams.[10]
On 14 April 2022, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the Pro League would be increased from 16 to 18 teams. To prepare for this change, only 2 teams would be relegated to the First Division League and 4 teams would be promoted to the Pro League.[11]
Team changes edit
The following teams have changed division since the 2022–23 season.
To the First Division League editPromoted from Second Division Relegated from Pro League |
From the First Division League editPromoted to Pro League Relegated to Second Division
|
Teams edit
A total of 18 teams are contesting the league, including 12 sides from the 2021–22 season, the three promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Pro League.
The first club to be relegated to the First Division League was Al-Hazem following a 5–2 defeat away to Al-Ettifaq on 21 May.[12] Al-Hazem were relegated after just one year in the top flight. This was their second relegation in three years. Both Al-Ahli and Al-Faisaly were relegated following on the final day of the season. Al-Ahli were relegated following a 0–0 away draw with Al-Shabab.[13] Al-Ahli were relegated for the first time in their history while Al-Faisaly were relegated after 12 consecutive seasons in the top flight.
The first club to be promoted was Al-Arabi who were promoted following a 1–0 home win against Al-Rawdhah on 30 March 2022.[14] On 31 March 2022, Al-Qaisumah became the second side to be promoted following a 2–1 win over Al-Nairyah.[15] The third and final club to be promoted was Al-Riyadh, who were promoted following a 3–2 aggregate win over Al-Taraji in the promotion play-offs.[16]
Al-Arabi were crowned champions after defeating Al-Qaisumah 1–0 to win their second title and first since 1986.[17]
Al-Arabi return to the First Division League after an absence of 27 years. They return to the league for the first time since the 1994–95 season and will play in their 9th overall season. Al-Qaisumah return after an absence of three seasons and will play in their 4th overall season in the First Division League. Al-Riyadh return after an absence of six seasons and will play in their 18th overall season in the First Division League.
Stadia and locations edit
- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Foreign players edit
On 15 April 2022, the Saudi FF announced that the number of foreign players was increased from 5 players to 6 players.[30]
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Ahli (C, P) | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 48 | 24 | +24 | 72 | Promotion to the Pro League |
| 2 | Al-Hazem (P) | 34 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 55 | 29 | +26 | 68[a] | |
| 3 | Al-Okhdood (P) | 34 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 64 | 35 | +29 | 68[a] | |
| 4 | Al-Riyadh (P) | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 52 | 37 | +15 | 63 | |
| 5 | Al-Faisaly | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 58 | |
| 6 | Al-Arabi | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 49 | |
| 7 | Al-Kholood | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 33 | 31 | +2 | 43[b] | |
| 8 | Hajer | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 36 | 41 | −5 | 43[b] | |
| 9 | Ohod | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 29 | 38 | −9 | 42 | |
| 10 | Al-Jabalain | 34 | 9 | 14 | 11 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 41 | |
| 11 | Al-Qadsiah | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 29 | 34 | −5 | 40[c] | |
| 12 | Al-Orobah | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 35 | 41 | −6 | 40[c][d] | |
| 13 | Al-Qaisumah | 34 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 35 | 44 | −9 | 40[c] | |
| 14 | Al-Ain | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 34 | 46 | −12 | 39 | |
| 15 | Jeddah | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 34 | 40 | −6 | 38 | |
| 16 | Najran (R) | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 36 | 54 | −18 | 36 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 17 | Al-Sahel (R) | 34 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 36 | 51 | −15 | 32 | |
| 18 | Al-Shoulla (R) | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 23 | 46 | −23 | 23[d] |
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:
- ^ a b Al-Hazem finished ahead of Al-Okhdood on head-to-head points: Al-Hazem: 6 pts, Al-Okhdood: 0 pts (Al-Hazem 1–0 Al-Okhdood, Al-Okhdood 0–1 Al-Hazem).
- ^ a b Al-Kholood finished ahead of Hajer on overall goal difference: Al-Kholood +2, Hajer −5 (Hajer 1–0 Al-Kholood, Al-Kholood 1–0 Hajer).
- ^ a b c Positions determined by head-to-head points: Al-Qadsiah: 9 pts; Al-Orobah: 7 pts; Al-Qaisumah: 1 pts.
- ^ a b Al-Shoulla were awarded a 3–0 win over Al-Orobah due to Al-Orobah's inability to hold the fixture.[31]
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.
| Leader | |
| Promotion to the Pro League | |
| Relegation to the Second Division |
Results edit
Statistics edit
- As of 29 May 2023
