Football fans across the Kingdom and beyond will be glued to their screens this Friday as Jeddah hosts the 13th round of the Saudi Professional League. This round promises some high-profile matches, reflecting the significant progress of Saudi football and highlighting the fierce competition at the top of the table, with closely matched points between the leading teams, as well as the intense battles at the bottom of the standings.
Classico of the Radiant Jewel
The round kicks off today with three important matches, the most prominent and anticipated being the clash between Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah (The Shining Jewel). This match carries special significance that transcends the mere three points at stake; it represents a historic derby between two giants of Saudi football, with a packed stadium expected, creating an atmosphere of intense passion that reflects the immense public enthusiasm for the Saudi League, which has become a focus of global attention.
In the other matches of the day, Al-Khaleej will be hosted by Al-Najma at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah, while Al-Ettifaq will meet Al-Akhdoud at the Ego Stadium in Dammam, in matches that are no less important for the teams seeking to improve their positions.
The battle for the lead and the relentless pursuit
Al-Nassr enters this round sitting atop the league standings with 31 points, but faces significant pressure from its closest rival, Al-Hilal, in second place with 29 points, who managed to reduce the gap to just two points in the previous round. This close proximity in points means any slip-up by the leader presents a golden opportunity for the pursuer to seize the top spot. Meanwhile, Al-Taawoun, in third place with 28 points, is closely monitoring the situation, confirming that the title race will be anything but easy this season.
Ranking of middle and bottom teams
On the other hand, Al-Ahli will be looking to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to boost their current tally of 22 points in fourth place and move closer to the top three. Al-Qadisiyah sits in fifth place with 21 points, followed by Al-Ittihad in sixth with 20 points, and Neom in seventh with 17 points.
In the rest of the standings, Al-Ettifaq occupies eighth place with 16 points, followed by Al-Khaleej in ninth with 14 points, then Al-Hazm in tenth with 13 points, Al-Fayha in eleventh with 12 points, and Al-Fateh with 11 points. The bottom two spots are witnessing a fierce battle for survival, with Al-Kholoud and Damac tied with 9 points each, Al-Shabab and Al-Riyadh with 8 points each, Al-Akhdoud with 5 points, and Al-Najma at the bottom with a single point, making their task in this round crucial in an attempt to salvage their situation.
