04 Ago Do players in Spanish professional soccer leagues maintain match running performance until the end of the match? A 5-minute interval analysis by match participation
Does physical performance really collapse at the end of a match?
Or does it depend on who you are and how long you play?
Most studies analyse match running performance using aggregated full-match data. This study does something different. It divides matches into 5-minute intervals and, crucially, differentiates players based on match participation.
A total of 381,194 individual match observations from 1,251 outfield players competing in the First and Second Spanish divisions during the 2022/23 season were analysed. Players were classified into three groups:
– Entire match players (EMP)
– Replaced players (RP)
– Substitute players (SP)
Total distance (TD), very high-speed running distance (VHSR, 21–24 km/h), and sprint distance (> 24 km/h) were examined across predefined 5-minute intervals.
The results offer a much more nuanced picture of fatigue and pacing.
Overall, match running performance declines as match time progresses.
From approximately the 55th–60th minute onward, a progressive reduction in total distance and high-intensity outputs was observed.
However, this decline is not uniform across player roles.
Entire match players (EMP) show a relatively stable pacing profile during the first half and early second half, followed by gradual reductions in the final 30 minutes.
Replaced players (RP) exhibit a different pattern.
During the first half, RP consistently demonstrate higher physical outputs compared to EMP, particularly in total distance and high-speed metrics.
This suggests that replaced players tend to start matches at higher intensity levels.
However, from around the 55th–60th minute onward, their performance drops sharply. In several intervals of the second half, EMP outperformed RP in total distance.
This likely reflects two realities.
First, replaced players may adopt aggressive pacing strategies early in the match. Second, they may lack the capacity to sustain this output across 90 minutes, prompting substitution.
Substitute players (SP) show yet another profile.
During their time on the pitch, substitutes covered significantly greater very high-speed running and sprint distances compared to both EMP and RP.
In multiple second-half intervals — particularly from the 65th minute onward — SP demonstrated superior high-intensity outputs.
This reinforces a well-documented phenomenon.
Fresh players entering the match can significantly increase high-intensity actions, especially sprinting performance.
Interestingly, substitutes did not necessarily cover more total distance than entire match players. Their impact was concentrated in high-speed and sprint metrics rather than global volume.
This distinction is important.
Substitutes enhance intensity, not necessarily volume.
From a physiological perspective, previous literature suggests that fatigue reduces total distance by approximately 10% between halves and high-intensity efforts by up to 45% in the final 15 minutes.
The present study partially confirms this pattern but adds complexity.
Declines are influenced not only by fatigue but also by:
– Match participation role
– Tactical context
– Effective playing time
– Substitution strategies
Entire match players appear to adopt pacing strategies, conserving energy during certain intervals to maintain performance stability.
Replaced players may operate at higher initial intensity but struggle to maintain that output.
Substitutes, benefiting from physical freshness, contribute disproportionately to high-speed and sprint actions.
This has clear practical implications.
Coaches should not interpret second-half declines as uniform fatigue.
Instead, performance trajectories depend on role and exposure time.
From a strategic perspective:
– Entire match players require pacing strategies tailored to sustain high-speed capacity late in matches.
– Replaced players may need improved endurance or refined pacing to delay second-half decline.
– Substitutes should be specifically prepared for high-intensity impact roles, particularly in the final 30 minutes.
The 5-minute interval analysis also highlights critical substitution windows.
The 55th–60th minute marks the beginning of significant performance divergence between roles. Introducing substitutes during this phase may maximize high-intensity contribution.
This study also reflects the evolution of modern football.
With congested calendars and the allowance of five substitutions, role specialization becomes increasingly relevant.
Physical performance is no longer only about enduring 90 minutes.
It is about optimizing impact according to participation profile.
The key takeaway is simple.
Players do not maintain match running performance uniformly until the end of the match.
Performance evolution depends on participation type.
Understanding this dynamic allows coaches to optimize substitution timing, workload planning and pacing strategies.
Football is not just about how much you run.
It is about when you run.
And how long you are asked to sustain it.