A study has been conducted on professional soccer players to explore the potential differences in match running performance five minutes before scoring a goal or conceding a goal. The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports . Study: Match running performance preceding scoring and conceding a goal in men’s professional soccer .
Image Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock The match-running performance of professional soccer players depends on various context-related factors, including match status, match outcome, and quality of opposition, among others. The inter-relationships between these factors are well documented in the literature. Evidence indicates that high-ranked teams cover more total and sprint distances than low-ranked teams.
While soccer players exhibit higher physical intensity during the defensive phase of the match, a lower physical intensity is generally observed during the offensive phase of the match. Studies analyzing the inter-relationship between physical performance and match status indicate that the final match result depends on short moments within the game where the team scores or concedes a goal. These short moments significantly contribute to the ability to score goals.
In this context, previous studies have shown a reduction in match running performance with a 5-minute period following intense efforts. In this study, scientists have compared the match-running performance of professional soccer players five minutes before a goal between t.