An Extensive Comparative Analysis of Successful and Unsuccessful Football Teams in LaLiga

The characterization of the in-game actions with the strongest influence on victory in football might be useful for designing playing styles that enhance teams' performance. The aim of this study was to analyze in-game match statistics on the top-3 and bottom-3 teams ranked in LaLiga. Accumulated offensive and defensive match statistics when playing at home and away were obtained from LaLiga for 8 consecutive seasons. Data extraction was performed by computerized video-analysis. The top-3 and bottom-3 teams were compared using independent t-test analysis and the magnitude of the difference was cataloged with effect sizes. Overall, the offensive variable with the greatest magnitude of difference in the top-3 vs. bottom-3 comparison was shooting accuracy (ES ± 90% confidence interval = 4.15 ± 0.52) followed by the number of offsides (2.25 ± 0.60) and corners (2.14 ± 0.61). However, when playing away, the offensive variable with the greatest magnitude of difference in the top-3 vs bottom-3 comparison was the number of shots (3.30 ± 0.44). The defensive variables that best differentiated top 3 - bottom 3 teams were the number of corners (2.16 ± 0.43) and shots conceded (2.04 ± 0.39). In conclusion, the match statistics that best discriminated successful from unsuccessful football teams were shooting accuracy while attacking and the number of shots conceded while defending.