Exploring elite soccer teams’ performances during different match-status periods of close matches’ comebacks

The aim of the present study was to examine winning and losing teams’ performances during the four different match-status periods that occur in close soccer matches’ comebacks (1° drawing; 2° winning/losing; 3° drawing; and 4° losing/winning). The variables (i.e., shots, passing effectiveness and ball possession) were gathered from 17 matches of the Spanish professional soccer league. Relative-phase analysis of ball possession between teams revealed a shift from anti-phase to in-phase relations from period 1 to 4. Pass efficacy revealed a particular trend of anti-phase relations in period 2 and the analysis of shots revealed similar phase relations between periods. Statistically significant differences were observed between winning and losing teams in Period 3 for ball possession and passing effectiveness. Also, statistically significant differences among periods were observed for winning teams in ball possession with period 4 as the most differentiated from the other periods. Besides, winning teams also showed significant differences between periods in passing effectiveness (period 4 vs 3), and in shots (period 3 vs periods 1, 2 and 4). On the other hand, ball possession showed significant differences for losing teams with periods 3 and 4 different than periods 1 and 2. The current findings can be used when controlling match-status scenarios and key performance indicators along the match.

© 2020. This author's accepted manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/