High-intensity activity according to playing position with different team formations in soccer

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine high-intensity patterns of professional soccer players in relation to the positional role with two different playing formations.

Methods: Match data were collected during official games systematically playing in 1-3-4-3 and 1-4-2-1-3 formations. Nineteen professional players (age 24.7 ± 4.8 years, body mass 74.5 ± 6.2 kg, height 176.3 ± 5.3 cm, percentage of body fat 9.7 ± 2.5%) were classified into five positional roles: central defender, wide defender, midfielder, wing and forward. Match performance variables included moderate-intensity running (14.9-19.8 km/h), high-speed running (19.9-25.2 km/h) and sprinting (> 25.2 km/h). The number of runs (#HSR, #SPR) and metabolic rates as HILR ([MIR + HSR + SPR]/min) and HSSL ([HSR + SPR]/min) were determined.

Results: The statistical analysis revealed that #SPR (p = .045), HILR (p = .022) and HSSL (p = .019) were higher in 1-4-2-1-3 than 1-3-4-3 formation. According to the playing position, significant differences were found in HILR (p = .045) and HSSL (p = .028) for forwards during 1-4-2-1-3 and midfielders amounted more HILR than others in that team formation (p = .047). Additionally, wings amounted significantly higher #HSR (p = .011) and #SPR (p = .010) in 1-4-2-1-3, as long as forwards was the other position with more #SPR during that formation (p = .023).

Conclusions: The players performed more high-intensity patterns in 1-4-2-1-3. Attackers and midfielders were the playing positions that held the most statistical differences comparing both team formations. These findings reveal that playing formation seems to be another potential factor of influence with respect to the physical performance of elite players if we consider their high-intensity profile in particular.