2017–18 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League

Prince Mohammad bin Salman League
Season 2017–18
Champions Al-Wehda
Promoted Al-Wehda
Al-Hazem
Relegated Najran
Al-Watani
Matches played 240
Goals scored 689 (2.87 per match)
Top goalscorer Mashari Al-Enezi
(21 goals)
Biggest home win Al-Mujazzel 6–1 Al-Nahda
(14 February 2018)
Biggest away win Jeddah 1–5 Al-Kawkab
(11 October 2017)
Highest scoring Al-Qaisumah 4–6 Al-Kawkab
(29 November 2017)
Longest winning run 5 matches
Al-Hazem
Longest unbeaten run 9 matches
Al-Wehda
Longest winless run 10 matches
Al-Nojoom
Longest losing run 7 matches
Najran
All statistics correct as of 4 May 2018.

The 2017–18 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League was the 1st season of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League under its current name, and 41st season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 12 September 2017 and concluded on 18 April 2018.[1][2]

Overview

First Division rebranding

On 19 September 2017, the General Sports Authority announced a rebrand; beginning with the 2017–18 season, the competition was known as the Prince Faisal bin Fahd League. As part of the rebranding, a new logo was introduced.[3] On 9 February 2018, the General Sports Authority once again announced a rebrand; starting from the current season, the competition will be known as the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League.[4]

Rule changes

On 11 September 2017, the SAFF announced that the numbers of foreign players were increased from 2 players to 3 players. They also announced that the allowed number of substitutions per match was increased from 3 to 5.[5]

Teams

A total of 16 teams are contesting the league, including 11 sides from the 2016–17 season, two relegated from the 2016–17 Professional League, and three promoted from the 2016–17 Second Division.

Al-Kawkab and Jeddah became the first two clubs to be promoted to the First Division, with both clubs finishing as group winners. Al-Mujazzel became the third and final club to be promoted, following a 5–1 win over Al-Ansar on 3 March 2017, to secure their return to the First Division after only a season's absence. Al-Kawkab returned to the First Division for the first time since the 2013–14 season, and Jeddah will play in their first-ever season in the First Division since being re-branded.

On 20 April 2017, Al-Wehda became the first side to be relegated from the Pro League following a 2–1 home defeat to Al-Fateh.[6] This will be Al-Wehda's first season back to the First Division since the 2014–15 season. On 4 May 2017, Al-Khaleej were the 2nd side to be relegated from the Pro League after a 2–2 draw with Al-Faisaly, finishing 13th in the league.[7] This will also be Al-Khaleej's first season back to the First Division since the 2013–14 season.

On 27 April 2017 Wej became the first club to be relegated to the Second Division following 2–1 defeat to Hajer. On the final matchday, both Al-Adalh and Al-Jeel were relegated to the Second Division, with both clubs drawing their matches.

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2016–17 season.

Stadia and locations

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-HazemAr RassAl-Hazem Club Stadium2,800[8]
Al-KawkabAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium5,200[9]
Al-KhaleejSaihatPrince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Stadium10,000 [10]
Al-MujazzalAl-Majma'ahKing Salman Sport City Stadium5,200[11]
Al-NahdaDammamPrince Fahd bin Salman Stadium15,000[12]
Al-NojoomAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium19,096[13]
Al-OrobahSakakahAl-Oruba Club Stadium7,000[14]
Al-QaisumahQaisumahAl-Batin Club Stadium6,000[15]
Al-ShoullaAl-SaihAl-Shoulla Club Stadium5,200[16]
Al-TaiHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium12,000[17]
Al-WataniTabukKing Khalid Sport City Stadium20,000[18]
Al-WehdaMakkahKing Abdul Aziz Stadium33,195[19]
DamacKhamis MushaitDamac Club Stadium3,556[20]
HajerAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium19,096[21]
JeddahJeddahReserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City1,000[22]
NajranNajranPrince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium20,000[23]

1: ^ Najran will play at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium due to the ongoing war in Yemen.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Wehda (C, P) 30 17 7 6 49 32 +17 58 Promotion to Professional League
2 Al-Hazem (P) 30 15 8 7 50 32 +18 53
3 Al-Tai 30 15 7 8 52 35 +17 52 Qualification to promotion play-offs
4 Al-Kawkab 30 14 8 8 52 33 +19 50[lower-alpha 1]
5 Hajer 30 14 8 8 39 35 +4 50[lower-alpha 1]
6 Al-Shoulla 30 11 10 9 42 43 1 43
7 Al-Khaleej 30 10 11 9 45 40 +5 41
8 Al-Qaisumah 30 11 7 12 52 54 2 40
9 Damac 30 10 9 11 49 43 +6 39
10 Al-Orobah 30 9 11 10 36 39 3 38
11 Al-Nahda 30 9 8 13 35 50 15 35
12 Al-Nojoom 30 6 15 9 34 41 7 33[lower-alpha 2]
13 Al-Mujazzal 30 10 3 17 39 52 13 33[lower-alpha 3]
14 Najran (O) 30 9 6 15 39 51 12 33[lower-alpha 3] Qualification to Relegation play-offs
15 Al-Watani (R) 30 5 12 13 33 48 15 27
16 Jeddah (O) 30 5 10 15 43 61 18 25
Updated to match(es) played on 18 April 2018. 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).[24]
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Al-Kawkab is ahead of Al-Fateh on head-to-head points: Al-Kawkab 2–0 Hajer, Hajer 2–2 Al-Kawkab
  2. Al-Nojoom is ahead of Al-Mujazzal and Najran on head-to-head points: Al-Nojoom 2–1 Al-Mujazzal, Al-Mujazzal 0–0 Al-Nojoom, Al-Nojoom 2–0 Najran, Najran 1–1 Al-Nojoom
  3. 1 2 Al-Mujazzal is ahead of Najran on head-to-head goal difference: Al-Nojoom 8 points and +3 GD, Al-Mujazzal 4 points and -1 GD, Najran 4 points and -2 GD

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 ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Al-Wehda414636574221111111111112111111
Al-Hazem131111574783532222222222221222232
Al-Tai382221111113333333334443333323
Al-Kawkab1099128111314141313108108656443335444444
Hajer81414151413956355445888887666655555
Al-Shoulla63391110825797556475765554567666
Al-Khaleej277455232446791111121415129877776777
Al-Qaisumah1258347369101013141197676567999888108
Damac713121415151616161514151314161413151313141111101010101089
Al-Orobah1411124476746645445789888999910
Al-Nahda52510636101112121110879999911121211111312131311
Al-Nojoom966799121110111114151513161411101113141412121211111112
Al-Mujazzal161610131214101213141512111212131512111410101013131113121213
Najran151213810121413129689710101113141516151616151614141414
Al-Watani141516111381198889121314121010121012131314141415151515
Jeddah111015161616151515161616161615151616161615161515161516161616
Leader
Promotion to 2018–19 Saudi Professional League
Relegation to 2018–19 Second Division

Updated to match(es) played on 18 April 2018. Source:

Results

Home \ Away[1] HAZ KAW KHJMUJNAHNOJOROQAISHOTAIWATWHDDAMHJRJEDNAJ
Al-Hazem 11 22 41 32 20 11 52 31 22 30 20 01 30 20 21
Al-Kawkab 01 23 41 30 20 21 21 10 01 21 01 30 20 11 33
Al-Khaleej 21 02 10 33 22 00 21 32 12 10 11 30 13 51 11
Al-Mujazzal 01 32 00 61 00 10 12 14 20 10 22 13 12 20 12
Al-Nahda 00 32 01 32 20 10 11 01 11 23 13 22 01 11 21
Al-Nojoom 41 32 22 21 00 11 00 12 01 00 01 11 10 22 20
Al-Orobah 10 00 32 30 12 22 31 33 10 21 31 11 23 11 22
Al-Qaisumah 11 46 20 21 41 00 40 01 01 20 43 43 12 22 03
Al-Shoulla 01 00 21 20 10 22 00 22 00 22 12 11 31 43 23
Al-Tai 31 01 03 31 12 52 30 32 50 22 12 32 20 31 41
Al-Watani 22 11 11 23 12 22 11 02 11 11 10 22 10 21 31
Al-Wehda 21 00 10 20 30 12 10 23 20 20 21 31 11 22 32
Damac 20 10 22 12 00 30 12 61 12 11 20 02 21 40 01
Hajer 00 22 21 21 20 11 20 10 11 21 32 00 22 11 10
Jeddah 13 15 11 12 12 21 10 11 12 22 40 23 20 12 31
Najran 02 01 10 12 21 11 12 13 20 01 00 11 14 21 43

Updated to games played on 18 April 2018.
Source:
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.


Season progress

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Al-HazemDDDWDWLDWDWWLWWWLWWWWWLWLDLLDW
Al-KawkabDDDLWLLLWDLWWLWWWLWDWWWLWDWDWD
Al-KhaleejWDLWDDWDWLDLLLDDWWLDWDWLDWWLDL
Al-MujazzalLLWLWLWLDLLWWLLDLWWLWLLLLWLWDL
Al-NahdaDWDLWWLLLLDDWWDDLLDWLLLWLLWDLW
Al-NojoomDWDLDDLWDLDLDDDLDWWDLLLWDDWDDL
Al-OrobahWDWWLDLDLWLWLDWDWLLLDLWWDDLDDD
Al-QaisumahDWLWDLWWLDLLDWWLWWDLLLWWDLLDLW
Al-ShoullaDWDLDDWWDLLWWDLWDDLWDWWWLLLWLD
Al-TaiWLWWLWWDDDWLLDWWLLDWLWWDWWWDWL
Al-WataniLLDWDWLWDDDDLLLDWDLWLDLDLDLLDL
Al-WehdaDWDWWLWLWWWDWWDWWWLWWLLLWWDDDW
DamacDLDLLDLDLWWDWLLDDWWLLWLWDLWWWD
HajerDLDLDWWWDWLDWDLLDLWLWWWLWWDWWW
JeddahDDLLLDWLLDWDLDWLLLDDWLWLDDLLLL
NajranLDDWDLLDWWWLLWLLLLLLLWLLWLWDDW

Updated to match(es) played on 18 April 2018. Source:
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose

Relegation play-offs

On March 7, 2018, the Saudi Football Federation announced that the number of teams in the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League will be increased from 16 teams to 20 teams. The relegation was removed and in its place, they announced a relegation play-off. The bottom 3 teams will face the 4th place team in each group and the best 5th team in a two-legged match.[25]

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Najran 2–1 Al-Muzahimiyyah 0–0 2–1
Al-Watani 1–2 Abha 1–1 0–1
Jeddah 3–3 (4–1 p) Al-Taqadom 2–1 1–2 (a.e.t.)


Najran 0–0 Al-Muzahimiyyah
Referee: Majed Al-Shamrani
Al-Muzahimiyyah 1–2 Najran
Al Mushait  87' Report Al Hamsal  9'
Al Abbas  51'
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoaish

Najran won 2–1 on aggregate.


Al-Watani 1–1 Abha
Saeed  50' Report Abo Hathrah  60'
King Khalid Sport City Stadium, Tabuk
Referee: Sami Al-Jires
Abha 1–0 Al-Watani
Nasser  61'
Referee: Majed Al-Shamrani

Abha won 2–1 on aggregate.


Jeddah 2–1 Al-Taqadom
Mesawi  1'
Omar  24'
Report Al-Boqami  57'
Reserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Shehri
Al-Taqadom 2–1 (a.e.t.) Jeddah
Al-Dossari  35'
Al-Harbi  90+3'
Fallatah  90' (pen.)
Penalties
Al-Attas
Fayed
Al-Boqami
1–4 El-Weshi
Al-Suwailem
Omar
Al-Sayed
Referee: Mohammed Al-Smail

3–3 on aggregate. Jeddah won 4–1 on penalties.

Statistics

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