Finishing Patterns and Goalkeeper Interventions: A Notational Study of Shot Effectiveness in Europe’s Top Football Leagues
Source abstract
Abstract
Football is a low-scoring sport where a single goal can determine a team’s success. Understanding shot effectiveness and goalkeeper performance is crucial for optimizing match success. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of shots and goalkeeper interventions by identifying the most favorable areas on the field and within the goal. An observational notational analysis was conducted on 15,266 on-target shots from five major European leagues (Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1) during the 2022/2023 season. Data were extracted from FotMob and analyzed in SPSS using Pearson’s chi-square test (χ2) and adjusted residuals (AR) to determine significant patterns. Field and goal zones were divided based on previous studies, with the penalty area receiving further subdivisions due to its relevance to the analysis. The results indicated that match context, target areas within the goal, field zones, and previously identified high-effectiveness areas significantly influenced shot success (χ2 < 0.001). Similarly, a significant association was found between the shooting foot and the side of attack (χ2 < 0.001), while the body part used did not significantly affect the outcome (χ2 = 0.077). Understanding these patterns helps coaches and players optimize team performance. Future studies should analyze additional seasons to confirm these results.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Sports Performance and Training · Sports Analytics and Performance · Sports injuries and prevention
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
References (47)
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