Performance Analysis
Background to the Research Field
Performance or match analysis has become an essential domain for evaluating and optimizing performance in modern soccer. By integrating advanced technologies with rigorous data analytics, it is possible to quantify technical skills (e.g., passing, dribbling, ball control), tactical behaviors (e.g., positioning, spacing, and coordinated actions at the individual, group, and team levels), and physical outputs (e.g., total distance, sprinting, accelerations). Together, these dimensions provide a comprehensive view of performance that supports evidence‑based training design, tactical decision‑making, and player development across age groups and competitive levels. The growing availability of high‑resolution match data has expanded both the methodological toolkit and the scientific relevance of match analysis, enabling more granular, context‑aware insights into how teams create, control, and convert advantages on the pitch.
Projects within the Research Field
Our research in match analysis is based on official match data from professional competitions, including aggregated event data and high‑frequency positional tracking data. This dual‑data strategy allows us to derive tailored performance indicators and apply both classical statistical methods and machine‑learning approaches to capture the complex interactions that characterize soccer performance.
One strand of research focuses on tactical defending, where we develop models to identify key factors associated with successful defensive sequences. By examining pressure on the ball carrier, the movement and compactness of the defensive unit, and spatial interactions among the nearest players, we aim to better understand how defensive behaviors contribute to preventing goal‑scoring opportunities and how such insights can inform training and match preparation. Closely related to this, we study the influence of tactical formations and playing roles on technical and physical performance, investigating how systems such as back‑four versus back‑three structures shape the demands placed on players across different positions. These analyses highlight how tactical choices affect individual action profiles and the physical load players experience over the course of a match.
A further line of work examines risk–reward dynamics in ball possession. Here, we quantify the value of individual on‑ball actions and evaluate how players make decisions under pressure, in transitions, or in organized attacking phases. By modeling the expected contribution of passes, carries, or dribbles to future outcomes, we aim to better understand decision‑making processes and the situational factors that shape them.
Another project investigates the impact of the COVID‑related competition interruption across European leagues. In this context, we analyze changes in physical performance indicators after the resumption of play and examine how altered schedules, congested match calendars, and reduced preparation periods influenced injury occurrence and match demands.
Across these projects, our overarching objective is to advance a holistic understanding of technical, tactical, and physical performance in soccer. By integrating large‑scale match data with robust analytical approaches, we aim to translate complex patterns of play into actionable insights for coaching practice, talent development, and strategic decision‑making.
