03 Jun When Data Protects the Player: How LALIGA is Transforming Injury Prevention in Professional Football
For years, injury prevention in professional football relied largely on intuition: player sensations, fitness coach perceptions, and medical staff experience. Today, this reality has shifted. Much of that change is thanks to LALIGA’s strong commitment to science, data, and performance applied to player health.
From LALIGA’s Football Intelligence & Performance Area, an unprecedented scientific research framework has emerged, unmatched by any major football league in the world. It stands out not only for the quality of the data—gathered through proprietary tools like Mediacoach—but for the ability to convert that data into actionable knowledge: published, peer-reviewed, and applied daily in training and injury prevention processes.
A Technological and Scientific Ecosystem to Protect the Player LALIGA has invested heavily in cutting-edge technology and elite providers to ensure maximum data quality. In all 42 stadiums across LALIGA EA Sports and LALIGA Hypermotion, perimeter tracking cameras from TRACAB (EA Sports) provide 25Hz positional data for all outfield players, the ball, and the referees. This raw data allows for highly detailed monitoring of player movement throughout the match.
These data are then transformed into usable, high-value insights through collaboration with top-tier providers: Sportian, which powers Mediacoach Live, Desktop, and Portal for real-time and post-match analysis; Footovision, which enables video-tactical integration through Mediacoach Vision; and Wimu (Hudl), a leader in wearable technology.
Alongside this technological backbone, the knowledge and experience of LALIGA clubs—especially their medical services and fitness departments—has been essential. Their insight and application of the findings have shaped a model of continuous improvement. This is further enriched by the contribution of top universities and research centers, and coordinated by LALIGA’s Football Intelligence & Performance Area.
The result is a collaborative ecosystem in which science, technology, and professional expertise converge to protect what matters most: the player.
A Knowledge Network in Service of Player Health To date, more than 12 universities, several international research institutions, and numerous LALIGA clubs have taken part in this scientific initiative, sharing data and applying findings in real-world environments.
Participating Researchers
(Alphabetically, with affiliated institution)
Aitor Gandarias-Madariaga (University of the Basque Country), Aitor Soler-Aguinaga (Elche CF), Alberto Lam (CD Leganés), Alberto Méndez-Villanueva (Qatar Football Association), Alejandro López-Valenciano (URJC), Andrés Fernández-Posada (CA Osasuna), Antonio Martínez-Serrano (UCAM), Aarón Miralles-Iborra (UMH), Daniel Rojas-Valverde (National University of Costa Rica), Francisco J. Vera-García (UMH), Gil Rodas (FC Barcelona), Javier Courel-Ibáñez (University of Granada), Javier Raya-González (Universidad Isabel I), Jesús Díaz-García (University of Extremadura), Joaquín González-Rodenas (URJC), Jordi Ferrandis (Catholic University of Valencia), Jon Patricios (University of the Witwatersrand), Josean Lekue (Athletic Club), José Carlos Ponce-Bordón (University of Extremadura), José Conde (Sevilla FC), José Romero-Sangüesa (Deportivo Alavés), Josu Díaz de Alda (Deportivo Alavés), Juan Del Coso (URJC), Julio Calleja-González (University of the Basque Country), Marco Beato (University of Suffolk), Manuel Manchón-Davó (UMH), Miguel Ángel Buil (Levante UD), Narciso Amigo de Bonet (RCD Espanyol), Oliver Gonzalo-Skok (University of San Jorge), Pedro E. Alcaraz (UCAM), Ricardo Resta (LALIGA), Roberto López del Campo (LALIGA), Sergio Jiménez-Rubio (Getafe CF), Tomás García-Calvo (University of Extremadura), Víctor Moreno-Pérez (UMH), Víctor Sotos-Martínez (UMH), Xabier Valencia-Murua (SD Eibar), Xavier Yanguas-Leyes (FC Barcelona).
What We Have Learned: 9 Scientific Findings Already Applied to Professional Football
- Less playtime also increases injury risk: Players who accumulate fewer than 95 minutes across the two previous matches face a significantly higher likelihood of muscle injury.
- The minutes before injury matter: In 88% of hamstring injuries, players had unusually high running loads in the five minutes prior.
- Intense training weeks can be a trigger: Injury risk increases when a player experiences a weekly load (volume and intensity) well above their normal baseline.
- Post-injury performance takes time to recover: Players with moderate or severe muscle injuries require several matches to return to their pre-injury physical levels.
- Genetic predisposition influences risk: Players with the ACTN3 XX genotype show lower sprint performance and a higher incidence of muscle injuries.
- Return-to-play strategies after COVID-19 were effective: LALIGA’s progressive retraining program prevented the injury spikes seen in other leagues post-lockdown.
- Non-linear actions are high risk: A significant number of hamstring injuries occur during curved sprints or decelerations, not just straight-line runs.
- Physical deficits linger even after clearance: Players often show performance drops in high-intensity efforts despite being medically cleared to play.
- ACL injuries are also linked to genetics: A specific genotype in the COL5A1 gene is significantly associated with ACL rupture risk in professional players.
Appendix: Peer-Reviewed Scientific Publications
- Reduced Match Exposure in the Previous 2 Matches Accounts for Hamstring Muscle Injury Incidence in Professional Football Players (Sports Health)
https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381231158117 - Hamstring Muscle Injury is Preceded by a Short Period of Higher Running Demands in Professional Football Players (Biology of Sport)
https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2024.127387 - Analysis of the Effect of Injuries on Match Performance Variables in Professional Soccer Players: A Retrospective, Experimental Longitudinal Design (Scientific Reports)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27015-9 - ACTN3 XX Genotype Negatively Affects Running Performance and Increases Muscle Injury Incidence in LaLiga Football Players (Genes)
https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15030386 - Influence of the Weekly and Match Play Load on Muscle Injury in Professional Football Players (International Journal of Sports Medicine)
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1533-2110 - LaLiga Lockdown: Conditioning Strategy and Adaptation to In-Game Regulations during COVID-19 Pandemic Prevented an Increase in Injury Incidence (IJERPH)
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052920 - Association Between the COL5A1 rs12722 Genotype and the Prevalence of ACL Rupture in Professional Football Players (IJERPH)
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031979 - Understanding the Impact of Hamstring Injuries on Match Performance in Spanish Professional Soccer Players: Two Full Seasons Follow-Up (Research in Sports Medicine)
https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2024.2309507 - Hamstring Strain Injury Patterns in Spanish Professional Male Football (Soccer): A Systematic Video Analysis of 78 Match Injuries (Functional Morphology and Kinesiology)
https://doi.org/10.3390/fmk9020045