The football championship is won when playing away: difference in match statistics between the winner and the second-place team in LaLiga

Juan Del Coso, Diego Brito de Souza, Roberto López-Del Campo, Hugo Blanco-Pita and Ricardo Resta

International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 2020, vol. 20, issue 5, 879-891

Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify match statistics that best explained the differences between the first- and the second-placed teams in the Spanish National football championship (LaLiga). For this aim, the number of wins, draws, losses, distribution of scored/received goals, and accumulated attack, and defensive match statistics were obtained of the 1st and 2nd place teams for eight seasons (from 2010–2011 to 2017–2018). In comparison to the championship winner, the second-place team obtained a similar number of victories at home but a lower number of away wins (effect size [ES] = moderate). The goal-based variables with the highest effect size between the first- and second-place teams were a higher number of goals scored while playing away and a lower number of goals received while playing away (ES = moderate). A higher shooting accuracy along with less conceded shots and conceded corners (ES = moderate), were the match statistics with the highest effect size between the investigated teams. A higher number of wins when playing away was the best indicator of performance to differentiate between the championship winner and the second-place team. Increased shooting accuracy and conceding less shots from corners might also aid in obtaining victory in LaLiga.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1080/24748668.2020.1801201

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