Evolution of Tactics in Professional Soccer:An Analysis of Team Formations from 2012 to 2021in the Spanish LaLiga
(Joaquín González-Rodenas, Víctor Moreno-Pérez, Roberto López-Del Campo, Ricardo Resta, Juan Del Coso)

 Article (PDF) 
Authors
Joaquín González-Rodenas, Víctor Moreno-Pérez, Roberto López-Del Campo, Ricardo Resta, Juan Del Coso
Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to explore the evolution of team formations (TFs) in a top national professional soccer league. A comparative analysis of a total of 3420 matches was performed in 32 professional soccer teams that competed from the 2012/13 to the 2020/21 season in the Spanish LaLiga. The frequency distribution of TFs across seasons presented a statistically significant change (p < 0.001). A 4.2-3.1 TF was most common from 2012/13 to 2016/17, while a 4.4.2 TF was most used from 2017/18 to 2020/2021. TFs such as 4.3.3 and 4.5.1 showed a relatively stable trend over the seasons. Overall, there was a reduction of TFs with 5 midfielders and an increase in the frequency of 2-forward formations (p < 0.001). When the ranking of teams was considered, a 4.3.3 TF was implemented with higher frequency by the Champion and teams that qualified for the Champions League (p < 0.05). However, a 4.2-3.1 TF was most frequent for teams qualified for the UEFA Europa League or teams that got relegated to an inferior category (p < 0.05). These findings highlight that teams competing in LaLiga evolved from the implementation of very few TFs led by the 4.2-3.1 TF, towards a more diverse scenario with a greater variety of tactical positional structures.
DOI
DOI: 10.5114/jhk/167468
Citation
 APA 
Gonzalez-Rodenas, J., MORENO-PEREZ, V., López-Del Campo, R., Resta, R., Del Coso, J. (2023). Evolution of Tactics in Professional Soccer: An Analysis of Team Formations from 2012 to 2021 in the Spanish LaLiga. Journal of Human Kinetics, 88, 207-216. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/167468
 Harvard 
 MLA 
 Vancouver 
Key words
football, game style, elite athlete, performance, team sport,

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