2018–19 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League

The 2018–19 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League was the 2nd season of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League under its current name, and 42nd season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 28 August 2018 and concluded on 15 May 2019.[1] Fixtures for the 2018–19 season were announced on 25 July 2018.

Prince Mohammad bin Salman League
Season2018–19
Dates28 August 2018 – 15 May 2019
ChampionsAbha
PromotedAbha
Damac
Al-Adalah
RelegatedAl-Qaisumah
Hajer
Al-Washm
Al-Orobah
Matches played380
Goals scored875 (2.3 per match)
Top goalscorerCarolus Andria
(22 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Mujazzal 4–0 Al-Ain
(10 October 2018)
Biggest away winAl-Qaisumah 1–5 Al-Nojoom
(17 October 2018)
Al-Shoulla 0–4 Al-Ansar
(19 December 2018)
Al-Washm 0–4 Al-Nahda
(25 December 2018)
Highest scoringAl-Orobah 3–4 Al-Jabalain
(6 May 2019)
Longest winning run6 matches
Al-Shoulla
Longest unbeaten run21 matches
Jeddah
Longest winless run23 matches
Al-Orobah
Longest losing run8 matches
Al-Orobah
All statistics correct as of 15 May 2019.

The first team to be promoted was Abha, following their 2–2 draw away to Al-Nojoom on 30 April 2019.[2] Despite losing to Al-Qaisumah, Abha were crowned champions on 11 May 2019 following Damac's 1–1 draw with Al-Ain.[3] The second team to be promoted was Damac, in spite of their 1–0 defeat away to Al-Tai, on 5 May 2019.[4] The third and final team to be promoted was Al-Adalah, who were promoted on the final matchday following their 2–0 win at home against Damac on 15 May 2019.[5]

Overview

First Division rebranding

On 7 March 2018, the Saudi FF announced that the league would be increased from 16 teams to 20 teams.[6] The competition will be known as the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League for the second season.[7]

Rule changes

On 7 March 2018, the SAFF announced that the numbers of foreign players were increased from 3 players to 7 players. They also increased the prize money to SAR 10 million.[8]

Teams

A total of 20 teams are contesting the league, including 9 sides from the 2017–18 season, 6 promoted teams from the Second Division, the two playoff losers from the 2017–18 Pro League playoffs, and three winners from the 2017–18 relegation playoffs.

No teams were relegated from the Pro League. Due to an increase in the number of teams, the Saudi FF announced that the relegation was canceled and in its place was a relegation play-off.[6] Both Pro League teams, Al-Raed and Ohod, won the playoffs and secured their top-flight status.

Al-Washm were promoted as the winners of the Second Division and Al-Jabalain were promoted as the runners-up. Al-Jeel defeated Al-Ansar in the third place playoffs. Both teams were promoted after the increase of teams. The 4 teams were joined by the third-placed teams of both groups, Al-Adalah and Al-Ain. Abha defeated Al-Watani in the relegation playoffs and became the only Second Division side to win their relegation playoff match.

Al-Washm and Al-Ain will play in the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League for the first time in their history. Al-Jabalain return to the MS League for the first time since the 2007–08 season. Abha return to the MS League for the first time since the 2014–15 season. Al-Ansar return to the MS League for the first time since the 2013–14 season. Al-Adalah and Al-Jeel return to the MS League after only a season's absence.

On 4 May 2018 Al-Watani became the only club to be relegated to the Second Division following their 1–0 defeat to Abha.[9]

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2017–18 season.

Stadia and locations

Team Location Stadium Capacity
AbhaAbhaPrince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium20,000[10]
Al-AdalahAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 19,096[11]
Al-AinAl-AtawilahKing Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah)10,000[12]
Al-AnsarMedinaAl-Ansar Club Stadium5,000[13]
Al-JabalainHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium12,000[14]
Al-JeelAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 19,096[11]
Al-KawkabAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium5,200[15]
Al-KhaleejSaihatPrince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Stadium10,000[16]
Al-MujazzalAl-Majma'ahAl-Majma'ah City Stadium5,200[17]
Al-NahdaDammamPrince Fahd bin Salman Stadium21,701[18]
Al-NojoomAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 19,096[11]
Al-OrobahSakakahAl-Oruba Club Stadium7,000[19]
Al-QaisumahQaisumahAl-Batin Club Stadium6,000[20]
Al-ShoullaAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium5,200[15]
Al-TaiHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium12,000[14]
Al-WashmShaqraaAl-Washm Club Stadium3,670[21]
DamacKhamis MushaitDamac Club Stadium3,556[22]
HajerAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 19,096[11]
JeddahJeddahReserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City1,000[23]
NajranNajranPrince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 20,000[10]

1: ^ Najran will play at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium due to the ongoing war in Yemen
2: ^ Al-Adalah, Al-Jeel, Al-Nojoom and Hajer also use Al-Fateh Club Stadium (7,000 seats) as a home stadium.

Foreign players

The number of foreign players is limited to 7 per team.[24]

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

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Former Players
Abha Gilles Ngomo Ibrahima Camara Ousmane Pato Souleymane Demba Marouane Fakhr Mohamed Houssem Houssem Tabboubi Cédric Tchoumbé
Daouda Camarra
Al-Adalah Selemani Ndikumana Carolus Andria Martial Yao Moctar Fall Bilel Souissi Yassine Boufalgha Youssef Fouzai Leo Alves
Al-Ain Bruno Silva Diego Assis Soualio Ouattara Moctar Cissé Moses Ogbu Faiz Al-Rushaidi Abdoulaye Dieng Rennan Oliveira
Masahudu Alhassan
Azeez Shobola
Sy Ass Mandaw
Hichem Essifi
Al-Ansar Ley Matampi Dieudonné Nkoume Mohamed Awal Abdallah Deeb David Ifeanyi Abdelrazaq Al-Hussain
Al-Jabalain Sedjro Counou Yuri Messias Al Senosi al Hadi Peter Nworah Hugo López José Galán Mahmoud Al-Youssef Harmony Ikande
Isah Eliakwu
Alfred Sankoh
Al-Jeel Francisco Pereira Gugu Vieira Jose Anderson Kadu Fernandes Sidevaldo Pereira Valdinei Jean Zirignon Leandro Tanaka
Al-Kawkab Mohamed Koffi Torric Jebrin Jose Fajardo Emmanuel Gomis Mignane Diouf Ali Ayari Chaker Rguiî Rafael Donato
Chiheb Jebali
Al-Khaleej Bernardo Souza Nicolas Ondama Alsény Bangoura Daouda Bangoura Lassina Diaby Abdullah Al-Zubi Alioune Ndiaye
Al-Mujazzal Ailton Machado Allan Machado João Paulo Shassiri Nahimana Dmitri Stajila Miloš Krstić Nicholas Dillon David Batista
Carlos Ross
Draško Đorđević
Lester Peltier
Al-Nahda Fodé Camara Yamodou Touré Hortalin Zadi Idrissa Coulibaly Cheibane Traoré Alaeddine Abbès Zied Ziadi Michailou Dramé
Jean Zirignon
Abdou Traoré
Al-Nojoom Gabriel Macedo Aboubacar Sawadogo Hermann Kouao Paul Onobi Mohammad Al-Dmeiri
Saith Sakala
Al-Orobah Eydison Felipe Félix Jefinho Elhadji Ndoye Mohamed Daf Daneil Cyrus Lester Peltier Dija Baiano
Pedro Rosa
Ismaël Yanogo
Maxime Feudjou
Frank Elvis
Ousmane Pato
Al-Qaisumah Ali Lakroum Mohamed Hammouche Youcef Chibane Arthur Silva Mamut Saine Gbolahan Salami Montasser Khemir Diego Henrique Barboza
Ante Hrakac
Kofi Boakye
Souleymane Demba
Nikola Ašćerić
Al-Shoulla Tarabai Cheick Moukoro Sylla Daouda Emmanuel Banahene Piqueti Wilson Akakpo Ziyo Tembo Anye Derick Fru
Julien Ebah
Béranger Itoua
Mahmoud Khaled
Al-Tai Dudu Pitty Christopher Mendouga Aboubacar Sylla Mamadou Barry Moussa Sarr Saith Sakala Said Al-Ruzaiqi
Bouba Sall
Malick Sambou
Kemo Soumare
Al-Washm Hamza Aït Ouamar Constantin Bakaki Ahmad Khaled Kafoumba Touré Ugonna Uzochukwu Vasco Coelho Nidhal Saïed Rodolfo Mol
Razak Nuhu
Mohamed Diabagate
Damac Hacène El Okbi Abdel Fadel Suanon Aubin Kouakou Junior Magbi Ahmed Al Ahmed Khaled Haj Othman Mahmoud Ben Salah Harouna Samake
Alegbe Victor
Christian Pyagbara
Hajer Diego Henrique Barboza Rayllan Bruno Noor Sabri Alassane Diop Gege Soriola Łukasz Gikiewicz Waliou Ndoye Robert Ghansah
Ahmed Hosni
Jeddah Felipe Nunes Thiago Furtuoso Oumarou Kaina Alain Zoe Patrick Gbala Ousmane Diabaté Okiemute Odah Abami Giovani
Reda El-Weshi
Gilles N'Guessan
Najran Guy Toindouba Mohammad Zureiqat Marco Tagbajumi Reuben Gabriel Mehdi Ressaissi Omar Zekri Wassim Nawara Esquerdinha
Felipe Almeida
Mosquito
Moïse Zongo
Mohamed Doumouya

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Abha (C, P) 38 19 12 7 52 38 +14 69 Promotion to Pro League
2 Damac (P) 38 16 16 6 52 31 +21 64
3 Al-Adalah (P) 38 18 9 11 49 39 +10 63
4 Al-Khaleej (Q) 38 15 15 8 49 39 +10 60 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs
5 Al-Jeel 38 16 9 13 52 44 +8 57[lower-alpha 1]
6 Al-Tai 38 15 12 11 39 34 +5 57[lower-alpha 1]
7 Najran 38 13 13 12 47 43 +4 52
8 Jeddah 38 11 17 10 46 43 +3 50[lower-alpha 2]
9 Al-Nojoom 38 11 17 10 46 44 +2 50[lower-alpha 2]
10 Al-Nahda 38 14 7 17 41 42 1 49[lower-alpha 3]
11 Al-Ain 38 12 13 13 43 45 2 49[lower-alpha 3]
12 Al-Shoulla 38 13 9 16 42 46 4 48[lower-alpha 4]
13 Al-Kawkab 38 13 9 16 45 52 7 48[lower-alpha 4]
14 Al-Mujazzal 38 12 12 14 41 45 4 48[lower-alpha 4]
15 Al-Jabalain 38 11 15 12 35 40 5 48[lower-alpha 4]
16 Al-Ansar 38 12 11 15 39 41 2 47[lower-alpha 5]
17 Al-Qaisumah (R) 38 13 8 17 46 53 7 47[lower-alpha 5] Relegation to the Second Division
18 Hajer (R) 38 11 14 13 39 42 3 47[lower-alpha 5]
19 Al-Washm (R) 38 12 7 19 35 51 16 43
20 Al-Orobah (R) 38 5 11 22 37 63 26 26
Updated to match(es) played on 15 May 2019. Source: kooora.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) Play-off (only for deciding champion, promotion and relegation).[25]
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Al-Jeel finished ahead of Al-Tai on head-to-head goal difference: Al-Jeel 2–0 Al-Tai, Al-Tai 1–0 Al-Jeel.
  2. Jeddah finished ahead of Al-Nojoom on overall goal difference: Jeddah +3, Al-Nojoom +2 (Jeddah 1–1 Al-Nojoom, Al-Nojoom 2–2 Jeddah).
  3. Al-Nahda finished ahead of Al-Ain on overall goal difference: Al-Nahda −1, Al-Ain −2 (Al-Nahda 2–1 Al-Ain, Al-Ain 2–1 Al-Nahda).
  4. Head-to-head points: Al-Shoulla 13, Al-Kawkab 12, Al-Mujazzal 7, Al-Jabalain 2 (Al-Shoulla 2–1 Al-Kawkab, Al-Kawkab 3–2 Al-Shoulla, Al-Shoulla 2–0 Al-Mujazzal, Al-Mujazzal 1–2 Al-Shoulla, Al-Shoulla 0–0 Al-Jabalain, Al-Jabalain 1–3 Al-Shoulla, Al-Kawkab 2–1 Al-Mujazzal, Al-Mujazzal 2–1 Al-Kawkab, Al-Kawkab 1–0 Al-Jabalain, Al-Jabalain 1–2 Al-Kawkab, Al-Mujazzal 1–0 Al-Jabalain, Al-Jabalain 0–0 Al-Mujazzal).
  5. Head-to-head points: Al-Ansar 8, Al-Qaisumah 4, Hajer 3 (Al-Ansar 4–1 Al-Qaisumah, Al-Qaisumah 0–2 Al-Ansar, Al-Ansar 1–1 Hajer, Hajer 2–2 Al-Ansar, Al-Qaisumah 2–1 Hajer, Hajer 0–0 Al-Qaisumah).

Positions by round

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
Abha41271111843111111111112322111111111111111
Damac1711453134455335334533443322222222222222
Al-Adalah7533711131617121411138965254111233333343344333
Al-Khaleej103813171315171611910127810111297755564445434433444
Al-Jeel1115181810769131713966677710141410813121410129766655555
Al-Tai9131716181416111014161617151711131412131314141214131391081010877666
Najran226101291065788912791010131111121311137666675566777
Jeddah310544211222444222321234445554557788988
Al-Nojoom5812121517181514131515151414171213118886978778121213119911119
Al-Nahda671115916171818181918141719191917141212139656911131188101316131510
Al-Ain1112259576667912151515161818151618171717171614139911128911
Al-Shoulla151496561112111517171816151417181920201920202020191920181919191918181712
Al-Kawkab2020202020202020202018191918181816161715151617161515151415161617161614151013
Al-Mujazzal131719191919181415101112101311121487999710898811131511141211141214
Al-Jabalain191614881288987781110139981010111281010111314151415151513101315
Al-Ansar1491376357633552443466671079111410791114121010121416
Al-Qaisumah126101414181419191920202020202020202017171815151616161617171716171717171617
Hajer84211422344223556645561114111212151210912131415161818
Al-Washm18191617161071089121311101388111516161718171818181818191818181819191919
Al-Orobah161815913151213121610141619161618191819192019191919202019202020202020202020
Leader
Promotion to 2019–20 Saudi Professional League
Qualification to promotion play-off
Relegation to 2019–20 Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 15 May 2018. Source:

Results

Home \ Away ABH ADA AIN ANS JAB JEL KAW KHJ MUJ NAH NOJ ORO QAI SHO TAI WAS DAM HJR JED NAJ
Abha 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 2–1 4–2 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 3–1
Al-Adalah 0–2 2–0 1–2 2–0 1–0 4–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0
Al-Ain 0–0 1–1 1–0 3–2 1–3 3–0 1–0 3–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 3–1 0–1 2–0 0–0 1–2 2–2 1–1
Al-Ansar 0–1 2–1 2–3 1–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 4–1 0–1 0–0 0–2 1–0 1–1 0–0 0–2
Al-Jabalain 0–1 3–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–1 0–0 0–2 1–1
Al-Jeel 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 4–1 2–0 0–0 1–3 0–0 3–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–3 3–0 2–2
Al-Kawkab 0–2 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 2–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 3–1 2–1 3–2 0–2 0–1 2–2 1–1 1–2 1–2
Al-Khaleej 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 3–2 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 3–2 1–0 1–0
Al-Mujazzal 2–3 2–1 4–0 1–1 1–0 0–2 2–1 2–2 0–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–3 4–0 0–0 1–1
Al-Nahda 0–2 0–2 2–1 4–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–4 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–3 2–0 2–0 0–1 0–2 0–1 0–0 1–0
Al-Nojoom 2–2 0–0 2–2 2–1 0–0 4–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 2–2 2–2
Al-Orobah 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–0 3–4 1–2 3–2 0–0 0–2 1–3 0–1 3–2 0–0 2–2 1–2 0–2 0–1 0–0 1–1
Al-Qaisumah 3–1 1–2 2–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–2 1–2 2–1 4–0 1–5 3–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 1–2
Al-Shoulla 0–1 2–0 1–2 0–4 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 0–1 3–2 1–0 1–2 3–1 0–3 0–2 3–1 3–1
Al-Tai 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–0 3–2 2–0 3–0 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–2 2–1 1–0
Al-Washm 2–3 2–1 0–0 3–1 3–1 0–1 1–3 2–1 1–0 0–4 0–2 0–0 0–1 0–3 1–0 0–2 1–1 4–1 1–3
Damac 0–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 0–1 3–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1
Hajer 2–0 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–0 2–3 0–1 0–1 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–2 0–2 1–2 0–3 1–0
Jeddah 3–3 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–1 1–0
Najran 0–0 1–3 2–0 3–1 0–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 4–2 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 3–1
Updated to match(es) played on 15 May 2019. Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season progress

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
AbhaWLWLDWWWWWLWDDWWDLLDWWDDWWLWWDDWDWDWLD
Al-AdalahDWWDLLDLLWDWDWDWWWLWWWWLLWLWDLLWWLWDDW
Al-AinWWWDDLLWDWLDLLLLDDLLLWLDDWDDWWWWDDLWDL
Al-AnsarDWLWWWLLWWDDLWLDWDLDDLLWLLLWWDLLDWDLLD
Al-JabalainLDWWDLWDLWWLDLDLWDWLDDDWDDDLDLWLDLWWLD
Al-JeelDLLWWWDLLLWWWWLDLDLLDWWLDLWLWWWDDWWWLD
Al-KawkabLLLLLLLWWDWDDWDDWDLWLLLWWWLWLLDLWDWDWL
Al-KhaleejDWLLLWLDDWWDDWDLDLWWDWDWDWWDDWWLWDWLDD
Al-MujazzalDLLLWLWWLWDDWLDDDWWLDDWLWLWLLDLWLWDLDD
Al-NahdaWDLLWLLDLDLWWLLDDWWWDDWWWLLLLWWLLLLWLW
Al-NojoomWDLDLLDWDDDDDWDLWLWWWDDLWLWDLLDDDWDLDW
Al-OrobahLLWWLDWLDLWLLDWDLDLLDLDLLLDDDDLLLLLLLL
Al-QaisumahDWLLDLWLLLLLDLDWLWWWWWWLDWLLLLDWLLWDWD
Al-ShoullaLDWWWLLLDLDLLWWDLDLLLDLLLDWLLWDDWWWWWW
Al-TaiDLLWLWLWDLDLDWDWDLWDWLDWLDDWDWLDWWLWWW
Al-WashmLLWDDWWLWLLDWDLWDLLLLLLWLDDLLLWWWLLWWL
DamacLWWDWWLDWDDWDLWDDDWDDDWWWDWWWDDWDWLLDL
HajerDWWWDDWDDDDWDLLDLWWLLLLLWDDLWWDLLLDDLW
JeddahWLWDWWWDDDDDDDWDDDWWDDDLDLLWWLLLDLDLWL
NajranWWLLLWDWWLDLDLWLDDLWDDDWLWWWDDDWLDLLWD
Updated to match(es) played on 15 May 2019. Source:
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose

Statistics

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