Saudi Pro League Table After Matchweek 4 As Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Surge, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli Win

• Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr climbed to sixth position in the SPL after two consecutive wins
• Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli are the only sides with perfect records in the Saudi league
• The relegation zone of the top flight is now occupied by Al Hazem, Al Shabab, and Al Akhdoud

Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli maintained their flawless record in the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League season, securing their fourth consecutive victories as the season unfolds.

In contrast, Al-Nassr, led by the seasoned goal-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, earned their second win with a commanding performance against Al-Shabab, who have yet to secure a win in their first four matches.

Sports Brief has assessed the clubs' performances and positions in the league standings after matchweek four.

Results from game four

The early front-runners, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, maintained their momentum by securing convincing victories in their respective matches.

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Despite the setback of losing Karim Benzema to injury, Ittihad remained undeterred and roared to a 3-0 triumph over Al-Wehda, with summer acquisition Jota finally finding the back of the net.

Meanwhile, their city rivals, Al-Ahli, continued their perfect start to the season, with marquee signings Franck Kessie and Riyad Mahrez once again shining as they scored on either side of halftime, according to Vanguard.

In Riyadh, Al-Hilal comfortably dispatched Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq, who experienced their first loss under the former Aston Villa boss, per the Sun.

Across town, Al-Nassr continued to dominate their opponents with a heavy win against Al-Shabab, scoring four goals or more for the second consecutive match week, the BBC reports.

The surprise package of the season so far, Al-Taawoun, continued their impressive run since upsetting Ronaldo's star-studded Al-Nassr side in match week two, notching successive wins, including Tuesday night's narrow victory against Al Akhdoud.

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How the SPL table looks

At the summit of the standings are the Jeddah-based teams Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, separated only by goal difference, both amassing an impressive 12 points from their first four games.

In hot pursuit of the early leaders are the 18-time champions Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun, each with 10 points to their name. Al-Hilal holds the edge due to their superior goal difference.

Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq, despite a promising start, have seen a dip in form and currently sit in fifth place with seven points. Cristiano Ronaldo's prolific goal-scoring has propelled Al-Nassr to sixth place.

At the other end of the table, there's been a significant shift, with newly-promoted Al Akhdoud occupying the bottom spot.

Meanwhile, Shabab, who have conceded a staggering nine goals, find themselves in 17th place with just two points. Al Hazem, another promoted side, is positioned just above Shabab with the same number of points but fewer goals conceded.

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Ronaldo's impact on Saudi League

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) currently stands at the pinnacle of Asian football, bolstering Cristiano Ronaldo's anticipation that it's just a matter of time before it rivals Europe's top-tier leagues.

The SPL consistently maintains the highest coefficient in Asia, primarily attributed to the remarkable displays of its clubs in the AFC Champions League.

However, the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr has brought about a significant transformation, Sports Brief reported.