2015–16 Saudi First Division

2015–16 Saudi First Division was the 39th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 21 August 2015 and concluded on 23 April 2016.

Saudi First Division
Season2015–16
ChampionsAl-Ettifaq (1st title)
PromotedAl-Ettifaq
Al-Batin
RelegatedAl-Riyadh
Al-Diriyah
Al-Mojzel
Matches played240
Goals scored584 (2.43 per match)
Top goalscorerAbdulfattah Adam
(20 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Batin 5–0 Al-Riyadh
(5 September 2015)
Biggest away winAl-Nahda 0–5 Al-Ettifaq
(17 September 2015)
Highest scoringAl-Mojzel 4–3 Al-Riyadh
(21 August 2015)
Al-Jeel 4–3 Al-Diriyah
(17 April 2016)
Longest winning run4 matches
Al-Mojzel
Al-Shoulla
Longest unbeaten run15 matches
Al-Ettifaq
Longest winless run26 matches
Al-Diriyah
Longest losing run10 matches
Al-Diriyah

On 23 April 2016, Al-Mojzel won the league title and earned promotion to 2016–17 Professional League along with Al-Ettifaq, while Al-Batin qualified to the promotion play-offs. Al-Nahda, Al-Riyadh and Al-Diriyah were relegated to the 2016–17 Saudi Second Division.[1]

On 21 July 2016, the SAFF announced the relegation of Al-Mojzel to the Saudi Second Division due to match fixing.[2] On 3 August 2016, they announced that Al-Ettifaq were crowned champions and Al-Batin would be promoted to the 2016–17 Professional League instead of Al-Mojzel, and they also announced that Al-Mojzel would be relegated instead of Al-Nahda.[3][4]

Teams

A total of 16 teams are contesting the league, including 11 sides from the 2014–15 season, two relegated from the 2014–15 Saudi Professional League and three promoted from the 2014–15 Saudi Second Division. Al-Shoulla and Al-Orobah join as the two relegated sides.[5] Damac were promoted as champions, while Al-Nojoom were promoted as Group B winners. Ohod secured the final berth by winning the playoffs.[6]

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2014–15 season.

To the First Division

Promoted from the Second Division

Relegated from the Pro League

From the First Division

Relegated to the Second Division

Promoted to the Pro League

Stadia and locations
Locations of teams in the 2015–16 Saudi First Division
Club Location Stadium
Al-Batin Hafar al-Batin Al-Batin Club Stadium
Al-Diriyah Diriyah Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Al-Ettifaq Dammam Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium
Al-Feiha Al Majma'ah Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Sport City Stadium
Al-Hazm Ar Rass Al Hazm Club Stadium
Al-Jeel Al-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Mojzel Al Majma'ah Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Sport City Stadium
Al-Nahda Dammam Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium
Al-Nojoom Al-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Orobah Sakakah Al-Oruba Club Stadium
Al-Riyadh Riyadh Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Al-Shoulla Al Kharj Al-Shoalah Club Stadium
Al-Tai Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium
Al-Watani Tabuk King Khalid Sport City Stadium
Damac Khamis Mushait Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Ohod Medina Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Ettifaq (C, P) 30 14 12 4 46 21 +25 54 Promotion to Professional League
2 Al-Batin (P) 30 15 8 7 49 31 +18 53
3 Al-Orobah 30 15 6 9 49 32 +17 51
4 Damac 30 12 9 9 36 34 +2 45
5 Al-Jeel 30 11 11 8 43 41 +2 44
6 Al-Shoulla 30 11 10 9 33 33 0 43
7 Al-Tai 30 12 6 12 38 36 +2 42
8 Al-Feiha 30 9 10 11 33 41 −8 37[lower-alpha 1]
9 Ohod 30 8 13 9 29 33 −4 37[lower-alpha 1]
10 Al-Watani 30 7 15 8 29 29 0 36
11 Al-Nojoom 30 8 11 11 34 37 −3 35
12 Al-Hazm 30 8 9 13 32 42 −10 33
13 Al-Nahda 30 8 9 13 32 45 −13 33
14 Al-Riyadh (R) 30 6 11 13 33 41 −8 29 Relegation to Second Division
15 Al-Diriyah (R) 30 2 8 20 22 56 −34 14
16 Al-Mojzel[lower-alpha 2] (R) 30 14 12 4 46 32 +14 54
Source: goalzz.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-Head points; 3) Head-to-Head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Play-off (only for deciding champion, promotion and relegation).[7]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Al-Feiha ahead on head-to-head record; Ohod–Al-Feiha 2–2, Al-Feiha–Ohod 1–0.
  2. Al-Mojzel were originally the first-placed team, but were placed at the bottom of the league table due to match-fixing scandals on 21 July 2016.[2]

Results
Home \ Away BAT DIR ETT FEI HAZ JEL MOJ NAH NOJ ORO RIY SHO TAI WAT DAM OHD
Al-Batin 3–1 1–1 1–0 3–1 2–3 1–0 3–2 0–0 2–1 5–0 2–0 2–2 2–1 0–0 0–1
Al-Diriyah 0–4 0–3 0–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–1 0–2 1–2 2–1 0–1 1–4 0–0 1–1 1–1
Al-Ettifaq 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–0 0–0 0–0 4–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 0–1
Al-Feiha 1–3 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 3–1 2–4 4–2 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–0
Al-Hazem 0–0 1–0 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–0
Al-Jeel 2–2 4–3 0–2 1–1 1–0 2–2 2–1 3–1 3–2 1–0 0–2 5–1 2–2 0–2 0–0
Al-Mojzel 0–2 2–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 3–2 2–1 3–2 1–2 4–3 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–2
Al-Nahda 2–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–3 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–1 1–2
Al-Nojoom 0–0 4–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–3 0–1 2–0 2–4
Al-Orobah 3–1 2–0 0–1 4–1 4–1 2–0 2–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–2 0–1 2–0
Al-Riyadh 3–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 0–2 0–1 0–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–3 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1
Al-Shoulla 1–0 1–1 1–4 2–0 3–2 2–1 0–0 0–1 2–0 2–4 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–2 2–0
Al-Tai 1–2 1–0 2–0 3–0 2–4 1–2 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–3 1–1 0–1 2–0
Al-Watani 2–1 0–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 4–2 0–2 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–2
Damac 1–2 3–0 0–2 4–2 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–4 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–2 2–2 1–1
Ohod 1–2 2–1 0–2 2–2 0–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–2 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 23 April 2016. Source: Goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics
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