Match Analysis
Feedback is key in life; it’s how we learn and adapt, ensuring we do not repeat the same mistakes and set future goals. As football evolved, coaches no longer needed to rely on their own memory or their staff feedback to understand their performance during the last match. They focus on video analysis which provides accurate and an objective point of view. A multidisciplinary staff of analysts, coaches and sport scientists then collaborates in order to draw conclusions and provide simple explanations of complex situations. But what does video analysis include in modern football and how does it help win games?
Video analysis comes in the form of recording and analysing matches and training sessions. Recording and analysing training sessions provides the advantage of the bigger picture in drill design. It can provide insights on the integration of new tactical approaches before a match day, whether it was successful and how it can be improved. It can be a supporting element of a database which enables coaches to select easier and more accurately the appropriate drill according to the weekly microcycle.
Match analysis involves rewatching the game from two points of view; catalogue every single action happening such as the exact number of successful passes, long balls, corners conceded, entries into final third etc…This statistical point of view will help understand how the team plays; depending on which actions are more frequent (or less frequent) it reveals style of play and therefore translates raw match data into actionable insights. For example, it can identify where possession is lost most often or underperforming players vs which were most influential during a match. Similarly, when studying the opposition’s performance, it can determine their style of play, preferred tactical formation and potential weaknesses to exploit thus helping prepare targeted game plans.
The second point of view is of a strategic nature, breaking down key aspects of the match into several categories such as possession and passing, defensive structure, attacking efficiency, transitions and set pieces. Analysing these concepts provide insights into game management and decision making enhancing training quality. For example, it enables coaches to identify transition moments, attacking movements, structured patterns, set-piece routines and how to enhance performance through preparation during training. It also helps build a consistent playing philosophy (always according to the coach’s and club’s vision) and reveals players’ positional physiological demands. These insights are then leveraged by the sport science team in order to enhance performance according to the periodization models set in place.
Nowadays, technological advancements have made match analysis faster and more detailed than ever, ensuring objectivity and tracking key metrics over several matches, allowing comparisons against opponents and past performances to monitor progress. Along with tactical adjustments, match analysis can also benefit player evaluation for long-term development, injury prevention or scouting reports. The rise of AI tools in the recent years, is transforming match analysis in several ways such as: automating data collection, (optical tracking systems), suggesting tactical and formation alternatives (based on heatmaps and opponent analysis) or identifying increased injury risks through fatigue patterns based on performance metrics.
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