Saudi Pro League narrows gap at the top, outpaces Europe in competitiveness: report

A recent report has revealed that the Saudi Pro League is becoming increasingly competitive and outpacing major European leagues in terms of competitiveness. According to the study conducted by Bain & Company and Twenty First Group, the gap between the top teams in the Saudi Pro League has significantly narrowed compared to the previous season.

In the 2023-2024 season, the gap between the champion and fourth place stood at 37 points, but it narrowed down to 15 points in the following year and further reduced to just nine points last season.

This improvement in competitiveness is evident in the tight race for the championship title. Last season, Al-Nassr won the title by defeating Damac 4-1 in the final round and finished the season with 86 points, just two points ahead of Al-Hilal, who had claimed the championship for the first time since 2019.

The report highlighted that Cristiano Ronaldo played a crucial role in the final match, scoring twice. Despite Al-Hazem ranking last in player quality, the team exceeded expectations by finishing ninth in the league.

One of the key findings of the report was the disproportionate representation of Saudi players in the teams. Saudi players accounted for 55% of Al-Hazem's playing minutes, the highest among all clubs, while the overall average stood at 40%. This trend was consistent across other clubs, with Saudi players making up a significant portion of their squads.

However, the report also noted that Saudi players were mostly deployed in defensive positions, making up 60% of the playing minutes, compared to 19% for midfielders and 18% for forwards. This statistic emphasizes the need to create more opportunities for local talent in attacking roles.

The report also pointed out that under-23 players, both Saudi and international, contributed to the growth of the league. The share of under-23 players increased from 14% to 15%, while the proportion of Saudi players in this group decreased slightly from 9% to 7%. The study recommended developing pathways that link academies to first teams and provide young players with more opportunities to succeed.

Attendance figures also revealed shifts in the league. The average crowd size decreased by about 7% to 7,800 per match, driven by a 47% decline in attendance at Al-Ittihad games. However, seven clubs experienced an increase in attendance, with Al-Ahli leading the pack with an average of 23,400 fans, and Al-Nassr achieving the highest stadium occupancy rate of 83%.