Monitoring Technical Performance in the UEFA Champions League: Differences Between Successful and Unsuccessful Teams

Abstract

This study attempted to identify associations between the TP (technical performance) of top-elite football (soccer) players according achievement of their teams and match outcome in UEFA Champions League (UCL). TP were evaluated by position specific InStat index which was calculated on the basis of a unique set of key parameters for each playing position. The participants (n = 179) were professional football players from teams that competed in the group stage of UCL in the 2020/21 season. Players were classified according to playing positions, and all data were obtained from 20 matches. Team achievement was defined by three criteria: (i) qualifying of the team from the group stage into the knockout stage of UCL, (ii) the final ranking of the team in the group, and (iii) total group points earned at the end of the group phase of UCL. The results indicated a higher InStat index when teams (i) won matches, (ii) qualified into the knockout stage, (iii) achieved a higher position on the table, and (iv) earned more group points. These findings confirmed that the InStat index is valid discriminator of TP between successful and unsuccessful teams.