SECTION III - SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY / RESEARCH PAPER
Are Counterattacks More Effective than Positional Attacks
in Soccer? A Comparative Analysis of Influencing Factors
1
Sport Sciences and Diagnostics Research Group, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
2
Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Isabel I de Castilla, Burgos, Spain.
3
Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, Elite Research Community, Maia, Portugal.
4
Sport Science Department, University of Maia, Maia, Portugal.
5
FPF Academy, Portuguese Football Federation, Oeiras, Portugal.
6
Department of Education and Educational Innovation, Faculty of Law, Education and Humanities, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Submission date: 2024-12-13
Final revision date: 2025-02-03
Acceptance date: 2025-02-27
Online publication date: 2025-09-23
Corresponding author
Pablo Prieto-González
Sport Sciences and Diagnostics Research Group, College of Humanities and Sciences., Prince Sultan University, P.O.Box No. 66833, Rafha Street, Riyadh 11586, 11586, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Sport Sciences and Diagnostics Research Group, College of Humanities and Sciences., Prince Sultan University, P.O.Box No. 66833, Rafha Street, Riyadh 11586, 11586, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
KEYWORDS
tactical precisionoffensive strategiesteam performance metricsleague-specific analysiscentral-zone efficiency
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to: (1) compare the efficiency of positional attacks and counterattacks in La Liga, the Premier League, and Serie A, considering team rankings (top, intermediate, and bottom tiers); and (2) identify key factors that influenced the success of both types of attack. A quantitative, observational study adhering to STROBE guidelines was conducted. Data from five seasons (2017–2022) were collected from INSTAT, covering 5,700 matches across the three selected leagues. The analysis included 84 teams. Of the 115 team variables available, 35 independent and two dependent variables—efficiency in positional attacks and counterattacks—were selected. These variables included team performance metrics and tactical indicators. Counterattacks were more efficient than positional attacks across the three leagues, and top teams performed better than intermediate and bottom teams. Serie A showed the highest efficiency. In La Liga and the Premier League, positional attack efficiency was linked to right flank attacks, while counterattacks relied on central-zone efficiency. Serie A showed similar patterns, with the right flank contributing most to positional attack efficiency and central-zone efficiency being the strongest predictor of counterattack efficiency. The superiority of counterattacks over positional attacks underscores the importance of tactical precision and situational execution. Top teams excelled in both strategies, emphasizing the need for efficiency. The findings highlight the significance of adapting strategies to each league’s unique trends. Coaches can leverage these insights to refine their approach, focusing on fast transitions, possession play, and wing play to enhance attacking efficiency and overall team performance.
REFERENCES (42)
1.
Andrzejewski, M., Chmura, J., Chmura, P., Konefał, M., & Pukszta, D. (2015). Analysis of Match Performance of Full-backs from Selected European Soccer Leagues. Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine, 11, 45–53. https://doi.org/10.18276/cej.2....
2.
Barreira, D., Garganta, J., Guimarães, P., Machado, J., & Anguera, M. T. (2014). Ball recovery patterns as a performance indicator in elite soccer. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 228(1), 61–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/175433....
3.
Barthelemy, B., Ravé, G., Govindasamy, K., Ali, A., Del Coso, J., Demeaux, J. … & Zouhal, H. (2024). Impact of Technical-Tactical and Physical Performance on the Match Outcome in Professional Soccer: A Case Study. Journal of Human Kinetics, 94, 203–214. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/18....
4.
Bradley, P. S., Archer, D. T., Hogg, B., Schuth, G., Bush, M., Carling, C., & Barnes, C. (2016). Tier-specific evolution of match performance characteristics in the English Premier League: it’s getting tougher at the top. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(10), 980–987. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
5.
Bradley, P. S., Lago-Peñas, C., Rey, E., & Sampaio, J. (2014). The influence of situational variables on ball possession in the English Premier League. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(20), 1867–1873. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
6.
Brechot, M., & Flepp, R. (2020). Dealing with Randomness in Match Outcomes: How to Rethink Performance Evaluation in European Club Football Using Expected Goals. Journal of Sports Economics, 21(4), 335–362. https://doi.org/10.1177/152700....
7.
Brito Souza, D., López-Del Campo, R., Blanco-Pita, H., Resta, R., & Del Coso, J. (2019). A new paradigm to understand success in professional football: analysis of match statistics in La Liga for 8 complete seasons. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 19(4), 543–555. https://doi.org/10.1080/247486....
8.
Casal, C. A., Losada, J. L., Barreira, D., & Maneiro, R. (2021). Multivariate Exploratory Comparative Analysis of LaLiga Teams: Principal Component Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 3176. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph....
9.
Collet, C. (2013). The possession game? A comparative analysis of ball retention and team success in European and international football, 2007–2010. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(2), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
10.
da Costa, I. T., & da Silva, J. M. G. (2009). Tactical principles of soccer: concepts and application. Motriz, 15(3), 657–668. https://doi.org/10.5016/2488.
11.
Dellal, A., Chamari, K., Wong, D. P., Ahmaidi, S., Keller, D., Barros, R., Bisciotti, G. N., & Carling, C. (2011). Comparison of physical and technical performance in European soccer match‐play: FA Premier League and La Liga. European Journal of Sport Science, 11(1), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/174613....
12.
Forcher, L., Forcher, L., Wäsche, H., Jekauc, D., Woll, A., Gross, T., & Altmann, S. (2023). Is ball-possession style more physically demanding than counter-attacking? The influence of playing style on match performance in professional soccer. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1197039.
13.
Gómez, M.-Á., Mitrotasios, M., Armatas, V., & Lago-Peñas, C. (2018). Analysis of playing styles according to team quality and match location in Greek professional soccer. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 18(6), 986–997. https://doi.org/10.1080/247486....
14.
González-Ródenas, J., Aranda, R., & Aranda-Malaves, R. (2021). The effect of contextual variables on the attacking style of play in professional soccer. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 16(2) 399–410. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.....
15.
González-Rodenas, J., Aranda-Malaves, R., Tudela-Desantes, A., Nieto, F., Usó, F., & Aranda, R. (2020). Playing tactics, contextual variables and offensive effectiveness in English Premier League soccer matches. A multilevel analysis. PLOS ONE, 15(2), e0226978. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa....
16.
Guimarães, J. P. A., Rochael, M., Andrade, A. G. P. de, Bredt, S. d. G. T., & Praça, G. M. (2022). How reaching the pitch’s final third is related to scoring opportunities in soccer? Retos: nuevas tendencias en educación física, deporte y recreación, 43, 171–176. https://doi.org/10.55776/recyt....
17.
Harrop, K., & Nevill, A. (2014). Performance indicators that predict success in an English professional League One soccer team. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 14(3), 907–920. https://doi.org/10.1080/247486....
18.
Hewitt, A., Greenham, G., & Norton, K. (2016). Game style in soccer: what is it and can we quantify it? International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 16(1), 355–372. https://doi.org/10.1080/247486....
19.
Jamil, M. (2019). A case study assessing possession regain patterns in English Premier League Football. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 19(6), 1011–1025. https://doi.org/10.1080/247486....
20.
Kempe, M., Nopp, S., Vogelbein, M., & Memmert, D. (2014). Possession vs. Direct Play: Evaluating Tactical Behavior in Elite Soccer. International Journal of Computer Science in Sport, 2014(6A), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.5923/s.spor....
21.
Kite, C. S., & Nevill, A. (2017). The Predictors and Determinants of Inter-Seasonal Success in a Professional Soccer Team. Journal of Human Kinetics, 58(1), 157–167. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-....
22.
Kuvvetli, U., & Çilengiroğlu, O. (2024). Home Advantage and Away Disadvantage of Teams in Champions League: Is It Valid for All Teams and Against Every Opponent?. Journal of Human Kinetics, 92, 161–179. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/17....
23.
Lago-Ballesteros, J., & Lago-Peñas, C. (2010). Performance in Team Sports: Identifying the Keys to Success in Soccer. Journal of Human Kinetics, 25, 85–91. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078....
24.
Lago-Ballesteros, J., Lago-Peñas, C., & Rey, E. (2012). The effect of playing tactics and situational variables on achieving score-box possessions in a professional soccer team. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(14), 1455–1461. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
25.
Lago-Peñas, C., Gómez-Ruano, M., & Yang, G. (2017). Styles of play in professional soccer: an approach of the Chinese Soccer Super League. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 17(6), 1073–1084. https://doi.org/10.1080/247486....
26.
Lakens, D. (2013). Calculating and reporting effect sizes to facilitate cumulative science: a practical primer for t-tests and ANOVAs. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 863. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.....
27.
Li, C., & Zhao, Y. (2021). Comparison of Goal Scoring Patterns in “The Big Five” European Football Leagues. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 619304. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.....
28.
Lopez-Valenciano, A., Garcia-Gómez, J. A., López-Del Campo, R., Resta, R., Moreno-Perez, V., Blanco-Pita, H., Valés-Vázquez, Á., & Del Coso, J. (2022). Association between offensive and defensive playing style variables and ranking position in a national football league. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(1), 50–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
29.
Marcelino, R., Mesquita, I., & Sampaio, J. (2011). Effects of quality of opposition and match status on technical and tactical performances in elite volleyball. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(7), 733–741. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
30.
Marcelino, R., Sampaio, J., Amichay, G., Gonçalves, B., Couzin, I. D., & Nagy, M. (2020). Collective movement analysis reveals coordination tactics of team players in football matches. Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 138, 109831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chao....
31.
Mitrotasios, M., Gonzalez-Rodenas, J., Armatas, V., & Aranda, R. (2019). The creation of goal scoring opportunities in professional soccer. Tactical differences between Spanish La Liga, English Premier League, German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 19(3), 452–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/247486....
32.
Papadopoulos, S., Papadimitriou, K., Konstantinidou, X., Matsouka, O., Pafis, G., & Papadopoulos, D. (2021). Factors Leading to Goal Scoring in the Spanish and Italian Soccer Leagues. Sport Mont, 19(1), 13–18.
33.
Plakias, S., Mandroukas, A., Kokkotis, C., Michailidis, Y., Mavrommatis, G., & Metaxas, T. (2022). The correlation of the penetrative pass on offensive third with the possession of the ball in high level soccer. Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per Le Scienze Mediche, 181(9), 633–638. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0393....
34.
Prieto-González, P., Martín, V., Pacholek, M., Sal-de-Rellán, A., & Marcelino, R. (2024). Impact of offensive team variables on goal scoring in the first division of the Spanish soccer league: a comprehensive 10-year study. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 25231. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598....
35.
Sarmento, H., Figueiredo, A., Lago-Peñas, C., Milanovic, Z., Barbosa, A., Tadeu, P., & Bradley, P. S. (2018). Influence of Tactical and Situational Variables on Offensive Sequences During Elite Football Matches. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(8), 2331–2339. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
36.
Sarmento, H., Pereira, A., Matos, N., Campaniço, J., Anguera, T. M., & Leitão, J. (2013). English Premier League, Spaińs La Liga and Italýs Seriés A – What’s Different? International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 13(3), 773–789. https://doi.org/10.1080/247486....
37.
Taylor, B. J., Mellalieu, D. S., & James, N. (2005). A Comparison of Individual and Unit Tactical Behaviour and Team Strategy in Professional Soccer. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 5(2), 87–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/247486....
38.
Tenga, A., Holme, I., Ronglan, L. T., & Bahr, R. (2010a). Effect of playing tactics on goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28(3), 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
39.
Tenga, A., Ronglan, L. T., & Bahr, R. (2010b). Measuring the effectiveness of offensive match‐play in professional soccer. European Journal of Sport Science, 10(4), 269–277. https://doi.org/10.1080/174613....
41.
Vogelbein, M., Nopp, S., & Hökelmann, A. (2014). Defensive transition in soccer – are prompt possession regains a measure of success? A quantitative analysis of German Fußball-Bundesliga 2010/2011. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(11), 1076–1083. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
42.
Yi, Q., Gómez, M. A., Wang, L., Huang, G., Zhang, H., & Liu, H. (2019). Technical and physical match performance of teams in the 2018 FIFA World Cup: Effects of two different playing styles. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(22), 2569–2577. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
| eISSN: | 1899-7562 |
| ISSN: | 1640-5544 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
