Al-Hilal tightens its grip on the top spot in the Roshan League and is crowned winter champion without a single defeat
With the curtain falling on the first half of the Saudi Professional League, Al-Hilal firmly established their lead, deservedly claiming the title of "Winter Champions" with an undefeated record. This achievement comes at the end of the seventeenth round, which witnessed great excitement, as Al-Nassr, led by their star Cristiano Ronaldo, and Al-Ahli, in third place, continued their relentless pursuit. Meanwhile, the top four positions saw some changes, with Al-Qadisiyah climbing to fourth place, capitalizing on Al-Taawoun's stumble, which saw them drop to fifth.
Background to the exceptional season and its global impact
This season of the Saudi Professional League (SPL) is proving to be one of the most competitive and captivating in the history of Saudi and Asian football. With significant support and investment from major clubs, the league has transformed into a destination for some of the world's most prominent football stars. This transformation has not only raised the technical level of the matches but has also placed the Saudi league in the global spotlight, with its results and competitions being followed with great interest worldwide. Al-Hilal's dominance thus far, despite the challenges and fierce competition, reflects the strength of its sporting project and the depth of its squad.
The importance of being first and its impact on the future of competition
Al-Hilal's first-half finish in first place and undefeated provides a tremendous morale boost, but it also places significant pressure on them to maintain this record in the second half of the season. Domestically, the battle is fierce not only for the title between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, but also for the AFC Champions League qualification spots, making every match in the upcoming rounds crucial. Internationally, the performance of Saudi teams and their stars is strengthening the league's position as a rising football power, opening up new opportunities for investment and global television broadcasting.
Details and figures for round 17
The seventeenth round witnessed a goal-scoring spree, with 31 goals scored in 9 matches, averaging 3.44 goals per game. Five matches ended with a victory for one of the teams, while four ended in a draw, two with goals and two with goals. Disciplinarily, referees issued 36 yellow cards and one red card, which was shown to Norwegian Tokmac Nguyen, the Al-Akhdoud striker. Two penalties were also awarded, one of which was converted and the other missed.
The race for the top scorer heats up
The competition wasn't limited to the top of the standings; it extended to the race for the Golden Boot, which grew more exciting with each passing round. Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, the Al-Nassr striker, continues to lead the list with 16 goals, but he faces stiff competition from Mexican Julian Quiñones, the Al-Qadisiyah striker, who trails him by just one goal (15). In third place are Englishman Ivan Tony, the Al-Ahli star, and Colombian Roger Martínez, the Al-Taawoun top scorer, each with 14 goals, indicating a fierce battle for the top scorer title right up to the final stretch of the season.
Comprehensive statistics for the first half of the season
With 144 league matches completed so far, the overall figures reflect the strength of the competition and the attacking tendencies of the teams:
- Total goals: 448 goals (an average of 3.11 goals per game).
- Match results: 112 wins, 32 draws (24 positive, 8 negative).
- Colored cards: 556 yellow cards and 50 red cards.
- Penalty kicks: 61 penalty kicks, 51 of which were scored and 10 were missed.
- Offensive opportunities: 3452 shots, of which 1253 were on target, and 1449 were corner kicks.
- Clean nets: The net was kept clean in 62 matches.
