Performance analysis in complex sports like soccer requires the study of the influence of the interaction between both teams during the game on final performance. The mixed methods approach involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data for the same purpose and within the framework of the same study. To build certain observation tools, mixed methods are necessary in order to take advantage of integration between qualitative and quantitative elements. The aim of this study was to develop a new no standard observation tool to analyze soccer offensive performance considering not only the observed team but also some aspects of the opponent behavior, as well as to test its reliability. The process consisted in expert meetings and exploratory observations. Experts carried out several design and re-design steps of the observation tool to its final form which includes two macro-criteria and 31 dimensions. The basic unit of analysis was the “team possession” and the main aims of study were: (a) technical, tactical and spatial characteristics of the start, the development and the end of the team possession and its offensive performance, (b) the behavior of the observed team just after losing the ball possession and its defensive performance. Inter-observer and intra-observer analysis were carried out and kappa coefficient was calculated to test the observation tool reliability and improve the quality of data. Results indicate that optimal inter and intra-reliability levels obtained in this work are high enough as for suggesting that the observation tool for offensive performance in soccer (REOFUT) could be an adequate tool for analyzing offensive play actions and their performance in soccer.

The aim of this study was to describe the technical, tactical and spatial indicators related to goal scoring in elite European soccer, considering the type of defence and the positioning of the opponent. For the analysis, 8 tactical dimensions related to the final actions in 380 sequences that led to goal during the UEFA Champions League were evaluated by observational methodology. 75.9% of the goals were scored from open play and 24.1% were scored from set pieces. Collective actions produced 51.6% of the total goals while individual actions produced 10.5% of goals. Regarding the penultimate action, crosses were more frequent against organized defences, while passes in behind the defence, or actions as dribbling or running with the ball had a greater percentage of goals against circumstantial defences ( 2 =37.027; p>0.001). Besides, greater utilization of wide invasive spaces (70.2%) was observed to assist against organized defences, while this percentage was 53.1% ( 2 =5.501; p=0.015) against circumstantial defences. For the last action, 70.1% of the goals were scored by using only one contact to the ball in organized defences but 46.6% in circumstantial defences ( 2 =26.521; p>0.001). The technical and tactical actions that achieve goal and their spatial characteristics are related to the type of defence used by the opposing team.

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Purpose. the aim of the study was to describe how scoring opportunities emerge and finish in Major League Soccer, taking into account offensive and defensive tactical indicators. Methods. the total of 360 team possessions that led to scoring opportunities during 30 random matches from Major League Soccer were analysed. For each possession, 14 dimensions were evaluated by means of observational methodology. Results. the scoring opportunities were created in 52.8% by organized attacks, in 25.3% by counterattacks, and in 21.9% by set pieces. Organized attacks were characterized by starting in non-invasive zones (57.1%), performing a non-penetrative action (72.6%), and making 4 or more passes (70.1%), while counterattacks started primarily in invasive zones (87.9%) and were bound with performing a penetrative action (96.7%) and making 3 or less passes (70.3%). chi-square analysis showed that scoring opportunities created by organized attacks had more proportion of previous actions in wide areas (p = 0.034), while counterattacks showed more passes in behind the defence from central areas (p = 0.001). As for the final action, counterattacks achieved more penetration over the opponent defence than organized attacks (p = 0.036) but for both types of attacks, the opponent defensive zone was the space majorly used to finish. For set pieces, corner kicks created 46.8% and free kicks 45.6% of the scoring opportunities. Conclusions. Goal scoring opportunities from organized attacks started more frequently in non-invasive zones, showed a greater proportion of non-penetrative actions, were built up by means of longer passing sequences, used more the wide areas of the pitch, and achieved less penetration over the opponent than those from counterattacks.

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