10 Dic How the Best Teams in LALIGA Dominated Thanks to Their Efficiency in Goalkeeper Restarts
Goalkeeper restarts, an apparently routine action, have proven to be a decisive factor in the performance of teams in LALIGA EA Sports during the 2023/24 season. This study reveals that the most efficient teams in this area, such as Girona FC, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid, not only topped the table but also maximized each restart, proving that success in football is not about doing more, but doing it better. We also explore how the data justifies the implementation of advanced tactical analysis models developed by LALIGA’s Football Intelligence & Sports Performance area.
Key Insights from the LALIGA EA Sports 2023/24 Analysis
- Restarts and goals: overall impact
- 6.93% of the total goals this season originated from plays starting with a goalkeeper restart.
- Teams in the top quartile (Q1) excel in efficiency: they require fewer restart possessions to convert into goals, which directly influences their success.
- Direct play vs. tactical-technical efficiency
- Teams in lower quartiles (Q3 and Q4) often rely on direct play, generating a high volume of restart possessions. However, this approach rarely translates into goals or clear chances, limiting its effectiveness.
- Differences among teams
- While high-performing teams transform their restarts into decisive opportunities, lower-performing teams fail to capitalize on the volume they generate, emphasizing the importance of training quality over quantity.
LALIGA’s Analysis Model: Taking Restarts to the Next Level
At LALIGA’s Football Intelligence & Sports Performance area, we have developed an advanced model that evaluates each goalkeeper restart to identify errors and provide tactical solutions. This model combines innovative metrics and spatial analysis to optimize both defensive and offensive performance:
- Convex Hull: defensive line and goalkeeper
- Analyzes the shape and cohesion of the defensive line to ensure adequate coverage and minimize risks.
- Positioning and defensive distances
- Evaluates the position and spacing among defensive players and their relationship with the goalkeeper to optimize restart strategies.
- Voronoi Areas in starting zones
- Identifies the spaces controlled by the defense compared to pressing rival players, enabling more informed tactical decisions.
- Distance to the goal line
- Studies the defensive line’s depth and compactness to prevent opponents from exploiting open spaces.
How to Apply These Findings to Professional Football
- Train for efficiency, not volume
- Design drills that simulate real restart scenarios, focusing on coordination between the goalkeeper and defenders to create high-quality plays.
- Improve direct play
- If opting for direct play, focus training on second-ball scenarios: how to win rebounds, occupy key zones, and maintain possession in the opponent’s half.
- Constant analysis and adjustments
- Use advanced tools like Convex Hull and Voronoi Area analysis to identify patterns and errors, adapting strategies week by week.
- Decision-making based on the opponent
- Analyze opponents’ pressing characteristics during restarts and adjust your strategies to exploit their weaknesses.
Conclusion
The analysis of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA Sports season demonstrates that goalkeeper restarts are much more than simple game resumptions: they are a decisive tactical weapon. The most successful teams not only master this action but use it to maximize their competitive performance. With advanced tools developed by LALIGA’s Football Intelligence & Sports Performance area, coaches now have the ability to transform restarts into a real competitive advantage.