Soccer, home to many exceptional talents, boasts numerous top quality domestic competitions and tournaments all across the globe. While leagues like the Premier League and La Liga hold a special place in the hearts of fans, the Saudi Pro League has emerged as an unexpected contender. In fact, the presence of stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar has caused a stir, overshadowing even the top European leagues with a startling statistic.
For months, the Saudi league and their domestic teams have been scrutinized by soccer fans over its quality and potential. However, it has managed to surprise and outshine some of Europe’s topmost leagues this time.
Saudi Pro League overshadows European competitions
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The Saudi Pro League made its name unforgettable this summer after it made waves in the transfer market. The clubs successfully attracted soccer superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema. Amid all the drama and criticism, they appear to be reaping the rewards as they’ve secured a remarkable statistic.
This came to light from the Roshn Saudi League’s official social media handle. In the 2023/24 season’s first nine matches, an average of more than three goals per game has been scored in the RSL. This marks the highest in the past five seasons of the Middle Eastern League. Talking about other big European leagues, as per Footystat, the SPL has matched the Premier League’s record of three goals per match.
Additionally, the Roshn Saudi League has surpassed La Liga’s record of 2.91 goals per game. As for the remaining leagues, Italy’s Serie A and France’s Ligue 1 stand at 2.61 and 2.85 goals per match, respectively. However, it falls short of beating the Bundesliga’s record of 3.52 goals per game.
There have been over 3 goals per game scored in the RSL over the first nine matches of 2023/24…
The most in the last five seasons 📈⚽#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/F4QCj72TEL
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) October 18, 2023
Nevertheless, it still counts as a significant achievement for the Roshn Saudi League. While they must be happy with this stat, they will be likely worried about their poor attendance, despite splurging millions on the likes of Ronaldo and Neymar.
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Saudi Pro League sees poor attendance despite spending millions on Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar
On ESPN’s ‘The Gab & Juls show,’ Gabriel Marcotti and Julien Laurens addressed the concerning issue of low attendance in the Saudi Pro League. Laurens disclosed that a mere 133 spectators were present at the Al Riyadh vs. Al Akhdoud match, highlighting a steep 15% decline in overall attendance. This situation prompted host Gabriel Marcotti to issue a stern caution to the SPL.
Marcotti expressed his concern by acknowledging that clubs like Al Nassr and Al Ittihad continue to attract sizable crowds of 20,000 to 40,000 but raised the question of who would support clubs like Al Akhdoud that lack substantial financial backing. He stated, “The fact that you invest a billion and still see a 15% decrease is not a good sign.” This undeniably serves as a significant warning for the Saudi League, which aspires to establish its dominance in the world of soccer. Any thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
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