Sprinting Analysis of Elite Soccer Players During European Champions League and UEFA Cup Matches

Di Salvo, V., Baron, R., González-Haro, C., Gormasz, C., Pigozzi, F., Bachl, N.

This study aimed to provide a detailed analysis of sprinting activities among different playing positions during European Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions. A total of 717 elite outfield soccer players were evaluated from 2002 to 2006 using ProZone® (Leeds, UK). Sprinting activities, including explosive and leading sprints, were analyzed for each playing position.

Statistical analysis revealed differences among positions for the total number of sprints and total sprint distance covered, with wide midfielders exhibiting the highest values, followed by attackers, wide defenders, central midfielders, and central defenders (p < 0.001). Similar differences were observed for explosive sprints and leading sprints, with wide midfielders generally performing more sprints compared to other positions (p < 0.001). Interestingly, there were no significant differences in the ratio of explosive to leading sprints among the different playing positions. This suggests that while the frequency and distance of sprinting activities vary by position, the distribution between explosive and leading sprints remains relatively consistent. Overall, the study highlights that sprinting characteristics are influenced by player position, with wide midfielders requiring additional high-intensity activities during training to achieve the performance levels demanded during matches. These findings underscore the importance of position-specific training regimens tailored to the physical demands of each playing role in elite soccer.