Fizička Kultura (Jan 2017)
Tactics of attack of football teams in the Champions League knockout phase in seasons of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017
Abstract
The aim of this study is to find out characteristics of tactics of attack of teams which play in the finals of the Champions League by analyzing competition activities and also to use comparative analysis for the same competition in two competition seasons and point to the potential tendencies in tactical preparation of teams for the very end of the competition. The analysis involved quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals in seasons 2015/2016 and 2016/2017, i.e. 13 matches in each season. The tactical action was analyzed by monitoring variables that describe the ways of beginning, realization and completion of successful attacks, but also the overall characteristics of play when a team was in ball possession (scope, success and speed of passing the ball). Results of this study showed that that there are no significant differences in tactical demonstration of teams that play the final round of the competition in two competition seasons. The application of continuous attacks is dominant, beginning by cutting a pass and winning "the second ball" on the opponent's half, while the final pass is in most cases the centre and back lateral passing. However, significant difference was discovered only in efficiency during the passing game, which was significantly greater in the 2016/2017 season (p=0.013) and partially in the longer ball possession also in the 2016/2017 season. The kind of analysis in the field of football tactics is valuable because it provides a possibility to define the criteria for achieving results on the highest level, but to predict potential tendencies in developing offensive football tactics.
