The same team can face very different physical demands depending on the opponent, the scoreline and where the match is played. But how much do these factors matter for a team that consistently dominates possession and competition? This study analysed FC Barcelona's physical performance across all...
A player can return to competition with apparently normal high-speed running yet remain markedly underexposed to speeds close to his own maximum. Our new study in professional LALIGA footballers shows how absolute thresholds can conceal sprint reductions for up to 14 matches after hamstring injury—and...
A player can return to competition after a hamstring injury, recover their usual running distances and still perform considerably fewer sprints near their maximum speed. The difference may simply depend on how we measure recovery. This study monitored 327 professional LALIGA players from three clubs over...
Why the same physical metric can tell completely different stories across teams At first glance, this metric looks almost useless. Across the full LALIGA EA SPORTS 2025/26 season, teams that made more sprints than their opponents won 41% of their matches. Teams that made fewer sprints won 35%. Only...
Returning to play after an anterior cruciate ligament rupture is not the same as returning to performance. That is the main message for coaches from this study. A player may be medically cleared, back in the squad and already playing official minutes, but still not have...
Congested weeks change everything. Not just how much players run. But how they run. And why. This study shows a simple idea with big consequences. Not all congested weeks are the same. A Champions League week is not a Cup week. And a starter is not...