Abstract
The objective of the study was to compare goal scoring patterns among the “Big Five” European football leagues during the 2009/2010–2018/2019 seasons. A total of 18 pattern dimensions related to the offense pattern, the shooting situation and the scoring time period were evaluated. Kruskal–Wallis analyses revealed significant pattern differences among the five leagues. The Spanish La Liga showed a greater proportion of goals from throw-ins. The English Premier League had a higher tendency to score from corner kicks. The German Bundesliga had the greatest number of goals from counterattacks and indirect free kicks, and the Italian Serie A had the greatest proportion of penalties. Ligue 1’s scoring ability is weaker than that of the other leagues, especially Bundesliga. The Bundesliga had an overwhelming advantage in goals scored on big chances with assists, while the Premier League had an advantage in goals scored with assists that were not from big chances. However, the differences among the five leagues in the mean goals scored in the last 15 min and the goals from elaborate attacks and direct free kicks were not statistically significant. These results provide a valuable addition to the knowledge of different goal patterns of each league and allow us to better understand the differences among the leagues.
Highlights
Powered by the so-called “Big Five” football leagues, the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga, the Spanish La Liga, the Italian Serie A, and the French Ligue 1, football has become one of the most profitable areas for the sports and entertainment industry
Post hoc analysis yielded a significant difference between Bundesliga and La Liga and the other three leagues [La Liga(0.024) = Bundesliga(0.02) > English Premier League (EPL)(0.014) = Ligue 1(0.008) = Serie A(0.008)]
After exploring the league effects within eight goal types, four shooting situations and six scoring time periods across five major European soccer leagues, we find that different goal types, shooting situations and scoring time periods show varying degrees of league effects
Summary
Powered by the so-called “Big Five” football leagues, the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga, the Spanish La Liga, the Italian Serie A, and the French Ligue 1, football has become one of the most profitable areas for the sports and entertainment industry. Oberstone (2011) compared the English, Italian, and Spanish leagues (2008/09) and found that Serie A was the best passing league with the highest percentage of tackles, while the Premier League had the highest number of tackles and fewer fouls and yellow and red cards. Konefał et al (2015) showed that the full-backs from the Spanish La Liga executed the highest number of passes and crosses as well as ball touches in the attacking zone. They performed the lowest number of passes in the midfield and defensive zones; the highest percentage of passes in these zones was achieved by the full-backs from the German league teams
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