Away matches or losing status increases the peak physical demand in Brazilian professional soccer players

Match Analysis in Soccer

Abstract

Match analysis is characterized by the study of training and competition, in order to quantify and qualify the effectiveness of their actions, in all their aspects (e.g., tactical-technical-physical). It is often used in team sports to obtain objective information about the performance of players and teams, and can help coaches to plan training sessions that are more representative of the real demands of the match. Several factors can interfere in the performance of a team or player, such as the “contextual variables”. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of match location, competitive level and match status on the peak of physical demand in matches of the Catarinense Championship (edition 2021 ) and the Copa do Brasil (edition 2021). The match running performance data was monitored in 22 male professionals soccer players during two competitions: 1st Division of the 2021 Championship of Santa Catarina, 1st and 2nd Phase of the 2021 Cup of Brazil. The results found show that away matches presented higher peak of total distance covered compared to home matches (p < 0.05). Regarding the competitive level, no significant differences were observed (p > 0.05). In the analysis of the match status, it was found that when the analyzed team was winning the match, the peak total distance covered results were lower compared to when the team was losing. It is concluded that away matches and when the match status is losing presented greater peak physical demands than their counterparts.