Match Movement Profiles Differences in Spanish Soccer Competitive Leagues According to Opposition’s Team Ranking: A Comparison Study
2022
José C. Ponce-Bordón | Hadi Nobari | David Lobo-Triviño | Tomás García-Calvo | Jesús Vicente-Giménez | Roberto López del Campo | Ricardo Resta | Javier Fernández-Navarro
(1) Background: This study analyzed the differences in match movement profiles according to opponent quality (i.e., match balance) in the professional Spanish soccer leagues over four consecutive seasons (from 2015/2016 to 2018/2019): (2) Methods: The ChyronHego®: system was used to record competition movement data from all matches played in the First (Liga Santander: n = 1520) and Second Spanish Division (Liga Smartbank: n = 1848). The total distance (TD) and high-intensity running distance (TD >: 21 km∙:h&minus:1) covered with and without ball possession (TDWP and TDWOP, respectively) were analyzed using a Linear Mixed Model, considering the opponent quality contextual variable: (3) Results: Results showed that teams covered a significantly greater TD when played against the lowest quality teams in L1 (p <: 0.05), while in L2 teams covered a significantly greater TD when played against the highest quality teams (p <: 0.05). Teams covered a significantly greater TDWP and TDWP >: 21 km∙:h&minus:1 when playing against the highest quality teams in both L1 and L2 (p <: 0.05). On the contrary, playing against the lowest quality teams in L1 versus the highest quality teams in L2 implied more TDWOP and TDWOP >: 21 km&sdot:h&minus:1 (p <: 0.05): (4) Conclusions: The present study indicates that match movement profiles depend on contextually related variables.
Show more [+] Less [-]Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
