match running performance Archives - Football Innovation Hub

12 Jun Sprinting More Than the Opponent: Physical Dominance or Tactical Context?

Posted at 13:19h in Research

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...

20 Mar Do the Competitions Played During Congested Weeks Influence the External Load of Spanish Soccer Teams? Analysis by Match Playing Time

Posted at 12:08h in Paper

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...

20 Feb Effective Playing Time and Its Impact on Match Running Performance

Posted at 12:31h in Research

https://youtu.be/HXnI-9HUsGs Effective playing time changes how we interpret physical performance in elite football. Most match reports describe performance per 90 minutes.Total distance.High-speed running.Sprint count. But football is not 90 minutes of continuous exposure. In LALIGA, the ball is in play for roughly 55% of total match time. The rest...

20 Ene When the Game Demands More, Maximum Speed Declines

Posted at 13:31h in Research

A consistent second-half pattern in professional football There is a widespread assumption in football. As matches progress and results are on the line, players are expected to reach their highest physical levels. More intensity. More effort. More speed. From a tactical and emotional perspective, this assumption is logical.From...

15 Ene Why do teams in numerical superiority reduce their physical intensity instead of exploiting the advantage?

Posted at 13:15h in Research

Introduction: a familiar scenario in elite football A red card changes everything. As a coach or performance staff member, you have seen it countless times. The opponent goes down to ten players. Instinct says: now is the moment. Push higher. Increase tempo. Make the pitch bigger. Break...

04 Ene The influence of red cards on match-running performance in elite soccer

Posted at 13:08h in Paper

What really happens when a team goes down to ten men? Or even more interesting. What happens when a team gains a numerical advantage? Red cards are often described as decisive moments that shift momentum, alter tactics and influence match outcomes. But their impact on physical performance is...

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