Al Hilal's England raid, Postecoglou prickles in Ronaldo's orbit: The Saudi Pro League season so far

The Saudi Pro League is currently taking an early breather with a new international break, as the top four teams remain the Saudi Pro League heavyweights. Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Nassr lead the pack, while Al Ahli is lagging behind the big four. The gap between success and failure is vast, as the bottom six teams have yet to taste victory, and promoted side Abha sits at the bottom with only two points.

Al Hilal's England raid has paid off, with the Riyadh giants occupying the top spot after six wins out of seven league games. The team has scored an impressive 23 goals so far, despite their 47-match unbeaten run coming to an end against Neom. Al Hilal's three English signings from the English Premier League – Crysencio Summerville, Gabriel Martinelli, and Ollie Watkins – have hit the ground running since joining the Saudi capital.

Gabriel Martinelli, who moved from Arsenal for £60 million, scored a treble in their thrashing of Al Taawoun, while Summerville, who cost £60 million from West Ham United, has already contributed two goals and three assists. "This is why I'm here," Martinelli said after his treble. "I've said it from the beginning… I'll be there giving my best and trying my best for this badge."

Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Al Nassr, is acclimatizing to the glare of Cristiano Ronaldo's spotlight after taking over the Saudi club following Jorge Jesus' departure. Postecoglou has started with five consecutive wins in all competitions, scooping the manager of the month award for August. One of those victories saw Ronaldo coming off the bench for his first start since the World Cup.

However, Postecoglou is bristling under the pressure as a long season lies ahead. He engaged in tense exchanges with reporters after a 4-0 defeat to UAE double-winners Al Ain in the AFC Champions League Elite group phase. The 61-year-old manager's prickliness does not bode well for his future, as he was previously sacked from Nottingham Forest after a dismal 39-day tenure.

Another new manager feeling the heat is Marino Pusic at Al Ahli, who inherited Matthias Jaissle's position after Jaissle moved to Newcastle United. Pusic's spell in Jeddah has begun with three defeats in seven matches, leaving the team in sixth place, six points behind leaders Al Hilal. Al Ahli's defeat to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria would have left them one win away from facing European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Fifa Continental Cup final.