Match-Play Running Performance in Professional Male Soccer Players: The Role of Anaerobic Speed Reserve.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare match-play running performance between players with a high (H_ASR) and low (L_ASR) anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) profile in professional soccer players. Method: Thirty-six male players from the same club (age: 23.3 ± 5.4 years) took part in this study. Match data were collected from 43 home matches of the first and second division of the Brazilian National Championship over two consecutive seasons. Players had their maximal sprinting (MSS) and aerobic speeds (MAS) determined during field test-based assessments. ASR was defined as MSS minus MAS. Total distance (TD), sprinting distance, number of accelerations and decelerations, absolute peak (PMS_(abs)) and mean match sprint speed (MMSS_(abs)) and its relative values expressed as a percentage of MSS (PMS_(rel) and MMSS_(rel)), distance covered > 100% MAS_(abs) and > 50% MSS_(abs) were compared between the groups and halves. Results: H_ASR presented greater sprint demand (d > 0.80), PMS_(abs) (d = 1.57), and MMSS_(abs) (d = 0.99) than the L_ASR group. The opposite was observed for PMS_(rel) and MMSS_(rel). The TD and amount of high-intensity accelerations and decelerations were moderately (0.77<d < 0.90) and largely (1.21<d < 1.63) reduced between halves for H_ASR and L_ASR, respectively. L_ASR players also had their distance >MAS_(abs) and > 50% MSS_(abs) decreased between halves (d = 0.72 and 0.77), while the H_ASR did not (d < 0.10). Conclusion: Our findings indicated that players with larger ASR had greater sprint demand, with a lower relative running intensity, and covered longer distances above MAS. The amplitude of ASR also affected the player's running ability between halves.