The 2020–21 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League was the fourth season of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League under its current name, and the 44th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 31 October 2020 as a consequence of the postponement of the previous season's conclusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fixtures for the first half of the 2020–21 season were announced on 3 October 2020. Fixtures for the second half were announced on 18 January 2021.
The first team to be promoted was Al-Hazem, following their 4–2 away win against Al-Sahel on 20 April. They set the record for the earliest team to secure promotion with six games remaining as well as most points, most wins and most goals in a season. On 21 May, Al-Hazem secured their second title following a 1–0 away win against Hajer. The second team to be promoted was Al-Fayha, following 0–0 home draw with Al-Tai on 20 May. The final team to be promoted was Al-Tai who were promoted on the final matchday following a 2–0 away win over Arar.
Team changes The following teams have changed division since the 2020–21 season.
To MS League Promoted from Second Division Hajer Al-Diriyah Arar Al-Sahel
Relegated from Pro League Al-Fayha Al-Hazem Al-Adalah
From MS League Promoted to Pro League Al-Batin Al-Qadsiah Al-Ain
Relegated to Second Division Al-Mujazzal Al-Taqadom Al-Ansar Hetten
Teams A total of 20 teams are contesting the league, including 13 sides from the 2019–20 season, 4 promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Pro League.
The first club to be relegated to the MS League was Al-Adalah, who were relegated after only a year in the top flight following a 1–1 home draw with Al-Raed. On 4 September 2020, Al-Hazem became the second club to be relegated, ending a 2-year stay in the Pro League following a 1–0 defeat away to Al-Shabab. On 9 September 2020, Al-Fayha became the third and final club to be relegated following a 1–0 defeat away to Al-Taawoun in the final matchday. Al-Fayha were relegated after three years in the Pro League.
The first club to be promoted was Hajer who were promoted following a 1–0 home win against Al-Akhdoud on 13 August 2020. The second club to be promoted was Al-Diriyah following a 1–1 home draw against Al-Qaisumah on 27 August 2020. The third club to be promoted was Al-Sahel who were promoted following a 3–0 away win against Al-Suqoor on 28 August 2020. The fourth and final club to be promoted was Arar who were promoted on the final matchday following a 1–0 away win against Al-Sharq.
Hajer defeated Al-Diriyah in the final to win their 2nd Second Division title. Arar defeated Al-Sahel in the third-place playoffs.
Al-Sahel and Arar will play in the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League for the first time in their history. Hajer return after a seasons absence and will play in their 29th overall season in the MS League. Al-Diriyah return to the MS League for the first time since getting relegated in 2015–16 season. They will play in their 4th season in the MS League. Al-Khaleej and Ohod will play in their 30th season in the MS League overtaking Al-Taawoun's record of 29 years in the second tier.
Stadia and locations
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order. Team Location Stadium CapacityAl-AdalahAl-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi StadiumAl-Fateh Club StadiumAl-BukayriyahAl BukayriyahAl-Bukayriyah Club StadiumAl-DiriyahDiriyahPrince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Riyadh)Al-FayhaAl Majma'ahAl Majma'ah Sports CityAl-HazemAr RassAl-Hazem Club StadiumAl-JabalainHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed StadiumAl-JeelAl-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi StadiumAl-Fateh Club StadiumAl-KawkabAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium Al-KhaleejSaihatAl-Khaleej Club StadiumAl-NahdaDammamPrince Fahd bin Salman StadiumAl-NojoomAl-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi StadiumAl-SahelAnakPrince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar)Al-ShoullaAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club StadiumAl-TaiHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed StadiumAl-ThoqbahKhobarPrince Saud bin Jalawi StadiumArarArarPrince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sport City StadiumHajerAl-Hasa Hajer Club StadiumPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi StadiumJeddahJeddahReserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City Najran Najran Najran Sport City StadiumOhodMedinaPrince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Foreign players The number of foreign players is limited to 4 per team.
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Former Players Al-Adalah Everton Fernando Gabriel Savvas Gentsoglou Rédah Atassi Al-Bukiryah Abderaouf Natèche Mamadou Soro Ward Al Salama Mehdi Ressaissi Bader Hassan Al-Diriyah Bilel Souissi Hichem Essifi Mahmoud Ben Salah Mohamed Aouichi Hermann Kouao Al-Fayha Soualio Ouattara Samuel Owusu Reuben Gabriel Tunde Adeniji William Alves Youssef Fouzai Al-Hazem Muralha Karim Yoda Ousmane Barry Ibrahima Tandia Al-Jabalain Carlão Diego Miranda Ricardo Ribeiro Edson Cariús Al-Jeel Késsé Amangoua Marcus Macauley Mohammed Bassim Jonathan Béhé Al-Kawkab Manucho Aliou Cissé Jilani Abdessalam Izaka Aboudou Youssoupha Mbengué Chaker Rguiî Zied Ounalli Al-Khaleej Hacène Ogbi Rogerinho Yannick N'Djeng Samuel Sarfo Muhanad Madyen Al-Nahda Cheibane Traoré Hachem Abbès Lassaâd Jaziri Mossaâb Sassi Al-Nojoom Ulysse Ndong George Akpabio Ahmed Ben Salah Lamin Samateh Anthony Bassey Al-Sahel Haythem Mhamdi Sadok Touj Mwape Musonda Patrick Carvalho Ammar Jemal Al-Shoulla Lúcio Flávio Pitty Sylla Daouda Piqueti Junior Mapuku Harmony Ikande Al-Tai Daniel Amora Gbagbo Junior Magbi Ismail Kouakou Zied Ounalli Mohamed Tiaïba Jailson Jorge Fellipe Al-Thoqbah Abdelaziz Ali Guechi Oke Akpoveta Amir Omrani Oussema Amdouni Cosmos Dauda Mohammad Zureiqat Arar Jackson da Silva Malek Miladi Zied Ben Salem Gnamien Gislain Yikpe Udoh Etop Hajer Adriano Pardal Lázaro Peter Nworah Oussema Boughanmi Jeddah Hamza Aït Ouamar Ablaye Sy Mohamed M'Bareck Saith Sakala Najran Carlos Coppetti Carlos Henrique Jailson Yazalde Gbolahan Salami Jonatas Ohod Zakaria Lahlali Gbolahan Salami Abdessalem Hallaoui Mabrouk Jendli Maher Hannachi
League table
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.
Results
Statistics
Scoring Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals1 Ibrahim DiomandéOhod242 CarlãoAl-Jabalain213 Ousmane BarryAl-Hazem194 Mamadou SoroAl-Bukayriyah155 Ibrahima TandiaAl-Hazem13 Amir OmraniAl-Thoqbah Karim YodaAl-Hazem8 EvertonAl-Adalah129 Tunde AdenijiAl-Fayha11 Adriano PardalHajer
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Carlão Al-Jabalain Najran 3–1 (A) Patrick Carvalho Al-Sahel Jeddah 3–2 (A) Everton Al-Adalah Al-Tai 3–1 (H) Abdullah Al-Dossari Al-Fayha Al-Sahel 4–0 (H) Ibrahim Diomandé Ohod Al-Hazem 3–2 (H) Tunde Adeniji Al-Fayha Ohod 5–2 (H) Ibrahim Diomandé Ohod Al-Nojoom 3–1 (A) Hassan Al-Solan Hajer Arar 8–0 (H)
Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubCleansheets1 Moslem Al FreejAl-Fayha182 Ricardo RibeiroAl-Jabalain173 Saad Al-SalehAl-Tai154 Abdulraouf Al-DaqeelHajer145 Bandar Al-ButtiAl-Sahel13 Dawod Al SaeedAl-Hazem7 Bilel SouissiAl-Diriyah11 Abdessalem HallaouiOhod Abdulrahman DagririAl-Shoulla10 Abderaouf NatècheAl-Bukayriyah10
Number of teams by region RankRegionNumber Teams1Eastern Province8Al-Adalah, Al-Jeel, Al-Khaleej, Al-Nahda, Al-Nojoom, Al-Sahel, Al-Thoqbah and Hajer2Riyadh4Al-Diriyah, Al-Fayha, Al-Kawkab and Al-Shoulla3Al-Qassim2Al-Bukayriyah and Al-HazemHa'ilAl-Jabalain and Al-Tai6Mecca1JeddahMedinaOhodNajranNajranNorthern BordersArar
See also 2020–21 Saudi Professional League 2020–21 Saudi Second Division
References