Performance profiles of football teams in the UEFA Champions League considering situational efficiency

Abstract

Performance of football teams varies constantly due to the dynamic nature of this sport, whilst the typical performance and its spread can be represented by profiles combining different performance-related variables based on data from multiple matches. The current study aims to use a profiling technique to evaluate and compare match performance of football teams in the UEFA Champions League incorporating three situational variables (i.e. strength of team and opponent, match outcome and match location). Match statistics of 72 teams, 496 games across four seasons (2008-09 to 2012-13) of this competition were analysed. Sixteen performance-related events were included: shots, shots on target, shots from open play, shots from set piece, shots from counter attack, passes, pass accuracy (%), crosses, through balls, corners, dribbles, possession, aerial success (%), fouls, tackles, and yellow cards. Teams were classified into three levels of strength by a k-cluster analysis. Profiles of overall performance and profiles incorporating three situational variables for teams of all three levels of strength were set up by presenting the mean, standard deviation, median, lower and upper quartiles of the counts of each event to represent their typical performances and spreads. Means were compared by using one-way ANOVA and independent sample t test (for match location, home and away differences), and were plotted into the same radar charts after unifying all the event counts by standardised score. Established profiles can present straightforwardly typical performances of football teams of different levels playing in different situations, which could provide detailed references for coaches and analysts to evaluate performances of upcoming opposition and of their own.

Identification and Preference of Game Styles in LaLiga Associated with Match Outcomes

“…It would be in a sense logical that the use of EA/HD would require playing in smaller spaces and therefore, the importance of %KM could be relativized. Thus, if something distinguishes this style, it would be the high importance of the synchronization [28] and the great technical repertoire of the players [29], compared with styles in which a greater distance could be more valued (i.e., Espanyol, Atlético, Sporting, Leganés and R. Betis, in the current study).…”

Evaluation of the Technical Performance of Football Players in the UEFA Champions League

“…Due to the availability of data, the profiling subject has developed over time from the analysis of single players or teams to more comprehensive analysis including a larger number of players or teams [15]. Previously, median and 95% confidence intervals [9,16] were used to present the typical performance of subjects and its spread of performance, while currently profiling techniques are commonly based on mean and 95% confidence intervals [17,18].…”

Basketball without borders? Similarities and differences among Continental Basketball Championships. [¿Baloncesto sin fronteras? Similitudes y diferencias entre los Campeonatos Continentales de baloncesto].

“…Performance profiles in sport can also be defined as the collection of reliable performance indicators which show the performance of a player or team (Liu, Yi, Giménez, Gómez, & Lago-Peñas, 2015). TTPI are not stable characteristics of sports teams, rather they vary according to situational variables, like the venue for the match and the quality of the opponent (Lago-Peñas & Lago-Ballesteros, 2011), and the efficiency of the team (Liu et al, 2015).…”

“…TTPI are not stable characteristics of sports teams, rather they vary according to situational variables, like the venue for the match and the quality of the opponent (Lago-Peñas & Lago-Ballesteros, 2011), and the efficiency of the team (Liu et al, 2015). For this reason, performance profiles have been suggested as a stable method for identifying the typical behaviour of sports teams (Hughes, Evans, & Wells, 2001;O'Donoghue, 2005).…”

“…In every regional basketball championship, the winning teams can be identified by specific TTPI, thus defining the performance profile in each competition according to its situational variables (Liu et al, 2015). The best national basketball teams as well as participating in their respective continental championships, have the possibility of taking part in two worldwide competitions, the Olympic Games and the World Championships.…”