The curtain has fallen on the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, a round filled with exciting events and remarkable statistics, confirming the fierce competition in one of the most intense seasons in the league's history. The standings saw no major changes at the top, with the leading trio maintaining their dominance. The points gap between Al-Hilal in first place, Al-Nassr in second, and Al-Ahli in third remains unchanged, as all three secured victories in their respective matches. This reflects the strong desire of the top clubs to avoid dropping any points at this crucial stage of the league.

In contrast, Al-Qadisiyah experienced a slight setback this round, as their performance dipped after being held to a draw by Al-Fateh, slowing their progress towards the top of the table. This round was characterized by a high level of tactical awareness and discipline, with no red cards issued in any of the nine matches. This is a positive indicator reflecting the players' commitment and high level of concentration on the pitch, despite the 40 yellow cards shown, which reflected physical play and challenges that remained within the bounds of sportsmanship.

The race for the Golden Boot heats up in Ronaldo's absence

On an individual level, the race for the Golden Boot has seen some exciting twists. English striker Ivan Tony of Al-Ahli has taken the lead in the scoring charts with 19 goals, capitalizing on his excellent form. In a surprising turn of events, Mexican striker Julian Quiñones of Al-Qadisiyah has jumped to second place with 18 goals, confirming his status as a valuable addition and a fierce competitor this season. Meanwhile, Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr, has slipped to third place with 17 goals, affected by his absence from his team's last two matches against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad, which has allowed his rivals to overtake him.

The language of numbers: discipline and effectiveness

Statistically, the round saw 21 goals scored in 9 matches, averaging 2.33 goals per game. This average is considered average compared to the league's overall average of around 4 goals, indicating improved defensive organization among the clubs this round. Seven matches ended in victory, while two ended in draws with goals scored, and there were no goalless draws.

Round 21 statistics summary:
• Number of matches: 9
• Wins: 7
• Goals scored: 21
• Yellow cards: 40
• Red cards: 0
• Penalties: 1 (successfully scored)

Looking at the overall figures for the league so far, 180 matches have been played, witnessing 528 goals scored at a very high rate (3.93 goals/match), 58 red cards and 701 yellow cards were shown, and 74 penalty kicks were awarded, which confirms that the Saudi Roshan League offers a rich football feast that combines high scoring and high competitiveness.

Al Wasl FC of the UAE, in a move reflecting the club's high ambitions to compete for titles, officially announced the signing of veteran Portuguese coach Rui Vitória to take charge of the first football team. The announcement was made via the club's official social media platforms, where the official account posted a picture of the coach along with welcoming messages, confirming that all contractual details had been finalized, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the "Emperor's" journey.

Return of the Gulf football expert

Rui Vitória is no stranger to football in the Arabian Gulf region; the Portuguese coach boasts an impressive track record there, most notably his successful stint with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr. During his time with the club, Vitória made a significant impact, leading them to the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Cup (Saudi Professional League) title in an exceptional 2018-2019 season, in addition to winning the Saudi Super Cup. This prior experience gives him a considerable advantage in adapting quickly to the footballing environment in the UAE and understanding the nature of Gulf competitions.

The Portuguese school and its influence

The appointment of Vitoria continues the trend among Gulf and Emirati clubs to rely on the Portuguese school of coaching, which has proven highly successful in recent years thanks to its tactical discipline and ability to develop talent. Vitoria possesses extensive international experience, not limited to the Arab region, but extending to managing prestigious European clubs such as Benfica, with whom he won the Portuguese league title twice, in addition to his recent experience with the Egyptian national team, making him a prominent figure in the coaching world.

Challenges and ambitions of Al Wasl

Sports analysts view this move as a significant step forward for Al Wasl, as the club seeks to reclaim its former glory and compete strongly for the ADNOC Pro League title and other domestic and continental championships. It is expected that Vitoria will work on restructuring the team, drawing on his experience in managing high-stakes matches and handling fan pressure. The appointment of a coach of Vitoria's caliber clearly indicates Al Wasl's management's desire to build a sustainable sporting project capable of winning championships in the near future.

Football fans across the Kingdom and the Arab region are turning their attention to Saudi Arabian stadiums, where the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League kicks off next Thursday, February 12th. This round comes at a crucial juncture in the competition, as the title race intensifies and becomes more competitive with the league entering its later stages.

The Saudi Professional League (SPL) has witnessed remarkable development this season on all fronts, from large fan attendance to the rising technical level of the clubs, thanks to international recruitment and the significant support the sports sector receives, making the league a focus of global attention. Round 22 is of paramount importance due to the close points standings among the top three teams, meaning any slip-up could drastically alter the league table.

A fierce battle at the top of the standings

The battle for the top spot in the Saudi Professional League has intensified like never before. Al-Hilal currently leads with 50 points, but this tally doesn't guarantee their safety, as Al-Nassr, in second place, trails by just one point (49 points). Al-Ahli sits in third place with 47 points, only three points behind the leader. This close competition makes the matches in this round like cup finals for all three teams. Al-Hilal aims to solidify its lead, while Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli are poised to capitalize on any slip-up and seize first place.

Al-Midan monitors in the following lines the full details of the dates of the matches of the next round, which will witness strong confrontations that may draw new features of the shape of the competition, most notably the summit of Al-Shabab and Al-Ahli, the confrontation of Al-Hilal against Al-Ettifaq, and the meeting of Al-Nasr against Al-Fateh.

Schedule of matches for round 22 in the Roshan League

The matches of the round were spread over three days (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) to ensure wide audience participation, and the schedule was as follows:

Thursday, February 12

• 06:45: Damac vs Al-Taawoun
• 08:30: Al-Qadisiyah vs Neom
• 08:30: The beam vs. the groove

Friday, February 13

• 04:55: Al Shabab vs Al Ahli (Top of the Round)
• 06:25: Al-Hilal vs Al-Ettifaq
• 08:30: Al-Ittihad vs Al-Fayha

Saturday, February 14

• 04:55: Riyadh vs Al-Khaleej
• 06:35: Star vs. Immortality
• 08:30: Al-Fateh vs Al-Nasr