positional play Tag

23 Jul What Does an Off-Ball Run Force the Defence to Do?

Posted at 13:54h in Research

An attacker can transform a defence without touching the ball. Using tracking data from 99 LALIGA matches, this study reveals how off-ball runs activate defenders, transfer marking responsibilities and reshape the collective structure. Discover how a new analytical model identifies which movements pin opponents, disrupt...

22 Jun The DNA of Goal-Scoring Sequences: Fast Attacks or Patient Build-Ups?

Posted at 14:14h in Research

How do possessions that end in a goal really begin, develop and finish? Football often debates attacking styles as if there were only one correct answer. Should teams attack quickly?Should they build patiently?Should they press high?Should they dominate through possession?Should they attack directly after recovery? The data suggests...

11 Nov Do Real Madrid and FC Barcelona dominate because they keep the ball—or because they control the space?

Posted at 13:52h in Research

https://youtu.be/EFYyQPsNVkQ Football has long equated dominance with possession.But what if the real indicator of control isn’t how long you keep the ball, but how fast you can reach it? In collaboration between LaLiga’s Football Intelligence & Performance Department, the University of Zaragoza and the Universidad Rey Juan...

27 May The science knew who would win LALIGA: an analysis based on real data from the last two seasons

Posted at 11:08h in Research

What if data could predict who wins LALIGA? This analysis of the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons reveals how five key performance metrics—attack penetration, finishing efficiency, defensive containment, prevention, and pass flow—consistently explain why FC Barcelona and Real Madrid triumphed. Backed by peer-reviewed research and real...