The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of match location, quality of opposition
and match outcome on match running performance according to playing position in a Portuguese
professional football team. Twenty-three male professional football players were monitored from
eighteen Portuguese Football League matches during the 2019–2020 season. Global positioning
system technology (GPS) was used to collect time-motion data. The match running performance
was obtained from five playing positions: central defenders (CD), fullbacks (FB), central midfielders
(CM), wide midfielders (WM) and forwards (FW). Match running performance was analyzed within
specific position and contextual factors using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated
measures, standardized (Cohen) differences and smallest worthwhile change. CM and WM players
covered significantly greater total distance (F = 15.45, p = 0.000, 2 = 0.334) and average speed
(F = 12.79, p < 0.001, 2 = 0.294). WM and FB players covered higher distances at high-speed running
(F = 16.93, p = 0.000, 2 = 0.355) and sprinting (F = 13.49; p < 0.001, 2 = 0.305). WM players covered
the highest number of accelerations (F = 4.69, p < 0.001, 2 = 0.132) and decelerations (F = 12.21,
p < 0.001, 2 = 0.284). The match running performance was influenced by match location
(d = 0.06–2.04; CI: 0.42–2.31; SWC = 0.01–1.10), quality of opposition (d = 0.13–2.14; CI: –0.02–2.60;
SWC = 0.01–1.55) and match outcome (d = 0.01–2.49; CI: 0.01–2.31; SWC = 0.01–0.35). Contextual
factors influenced the match running performance with differential effects between playing positions.
This study provides the first report about the contextual influence on match running performance in a
Portuguese professional football team. Future research should also integrate tactical and technical key
indicators when analyzing the match-related contextual influence on match running performance.
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of match location, quality of opposition and match outcome on match running performance according to playing position in a Portuguese professional football team. Twenty-three male professional football players were monitored from eighteen Portuguese Football League matches during the 2019–2020 season. Global positioning system technology (GPS) was used to collect time-motion data. The match running performance was obtained from five playing positions: central defenders (CD), fullbacks (FB), central midfielders (CM), wide midfielders (WM) and forwards (FW). Match running performance was analyzed within specific position and contextual factors using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, standardized (Cohen) differences and smallest worthwhile change. CM and WM players covered significantly greater total distance (F = 15.45, p = 0.000, η2 = 0.334) and average speed (F = 12.79, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.294). WM and FB players covered higher distances at high-speed running (F = 16.93, p = 0.000, η2 = 0.355) and sprinting (F = 13.49; p < 0.001, η2 = 0.305). WM players covered the highest number of accelerations (F = 4.69, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.132) and decelerations (F = 12.21, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.284). The match running performance was influenced by match location (d = 0.06–2.04; CI: −0.42–2.31; SWC = 0.01–1.10), quality of opposition (d = 0.13–2.14; CI: –0.02–2.60; SWC = 0.01–1.55) and match outcome (d = 0.01–2.49; CI: −0.01–2.31; SWC = 0.01–0.35). Contextual factors influenced the match running performance with differential effects between playing positions. This study provides the first report about the contextual influence on match running performance in a Portuguese professional football team. Future research should also integrate tactical and technical key indicators when analyzing the match-related contextual influence on match running performance
This research was supported by the Douro Higher Institute of Educational Sciences and
the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (project UIDB04045/2021)
This research was supported by the Douro Higher Institute of Educational Sciences and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (project UIDB04045/2021)
