The Saudi Pro League has witnessed a shocking new low in attendance figures as less than 100 fans turned up for a match. Al-Riyadh faced off against Damac in a mid-table clash at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Saudi Arabia.
The home team, who have been grappling with declining crowd numbers, were met by a mere 89 spectators in the 22,188-capacity stadium. To add insult to injury, those who did attend were treated to a goalless draw.
The teams, currently placed 9th and 12th in the table, managed to fire off just seven shots on goal between them over the course of the 90 minutes. The referee, Abdullah Saleh Al-Harbi, had an easy day at the office, handing out only three yellow cards.
In stark contrast, tens of thousands of fans flocked to the Kingdom Arena the previous day to watch Cristiano Ronaldo score another brace for Al-Nassr, leading them to a 3-1 victory over hosts Al-Hilal.
A staggering 25,187 fans watched the former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend net his 69th and 70th goals in the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo’s double strike in the second half, which included a penalty, steered Al-Nassr to their win over Riyadh rivals Al-Hilal in the race for the league title.
Despite the win, Al-Nassr remain in third place with 54 points, trailing three points behind second-placed Al-Hilal and eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad, who drew with Al-Ahli on Saturday.
Ali Al Hassan gave Al-Hilal the lead before half-time with a stunning shot that beat goalkeeper Yassine Bono. Ronaldo then doubled the advantage shortly after the restart, thanks to a precise strike set up by Sadio Mane.
Despite a spirited fightback from the reigning champions, Ronaldo sealed the victory for Al-Nassr with an 88th-minute penalty.
Al-Riyadh’s upcoming fixtures will see them on the road, first against Ronaldo’s third-placed Al-Nassr on Saturday, April 12. They will then travel to face Steven Gerrard’s former side, Al-Ettifaq, who are currently one place above them in the league, on Thursday, April 17.
Finally, they will return to their home ground on Wednesday, April 23, when they host a struggling Al-Fateh side.
This article first appeared on the Daily Star.
