Differences in Technical Development and Playing Space in Three UEFA Champions Leagues.

Mario Amatria,Xavier Iglesias,Rubén Maneiro,Claudio A Casal,Sophia Papadopoulou,Antonio Ardá,José Luís Losada,Hugo Sarmento

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.695853

Abstract

The analysis of football grows exponentially, with many researchers adopting it as an object of study. The thematic range that addresses it, as well as the different methodologies used, are of a very different nature—physical, psychological, technical, tactical—enriching every day the knowledge, and understanding of the game itself. The objective of this study has been to identify the differences between the different styles of play that lead to becoming the champion of the UEFA Champions League in the last 3 years of the pre-COVID stage, by analyzing the spatial performance developed, the association between the players that make up the different lines of the game system and the analysis of the various technical actions that are developed to carry out the offensive phase of each team. For this, the Observational Methodology and two types of analysis have been used: quantitative, by calculating X2, and qualitative, by applying the Polar Coordinates technique. The results obtained show the relationship that is established between the different lines that make up the offensive systems of the champion teams of this competition, as well as the relationship of significance that is established between the use of space—width and depth—and the technical means used to achieve success, the goal.

Highlights

Performance analysis in men’s soccer is experiencing rapid growth in the last decade
Corresponding to the 2016–2017 Season In the execution of the analysis, taking PORT as focal behavior and relating it to the rest of the categories that make up this dimension (DEF, CEN, DEL, and JR) the results obtained (Table 12 and Figure 3A) show the criterion category defensive line (DEF) with a radius of 2.32 and an angle of 344.22◦ in such a way that the vector generated is established in quadrant IV, where the focal behavior activates the appearance of the mating behavior in the prospective plane but not in the retrospective one
Corresponding to the 2017–2018 Season In the execution of the analysis, taking as focal behavior the different categories that make up this dimension, no significant results are obtained in any of them except for the DEL category which, relating it to the rest of the categories (PORT, DEF, CEN, DEL, and JR) shows the criteria category DEL (Front Line) in the results obtained (Table 13 and Figure 4) with a radius of 2.08 and an angle of 45◦ in such a way that the vector generated is established in quadrant I, where the focal behavior activates the appearance of mating behavior at the prospective and retrospective levels

Summary

Introduction

Performance analysis in men’s soccer is experiencing rapid growth in the last decade. Much of the available studies have focused on the offensive phase of the game (Mackenzie and Cushion, 2013; Sarmento et al, 2020). This is common, since it is known that in soccer achieving more goals than the rival is the greatest indicator of success. The performance analysis of the different high-level competitions is allowing us to know how the teams play and what their level of performance is Pratas et al (2018).

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion