Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic-Induced Break on Team Performances in European Football Leagues

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the team performances in football leagues during the 2019-2020 season. A total of 2982 matches from Italy's Serie A (760 matches), Germany's Bundesliga (612 matches), England's Premier League (760 matches), and Spain's La Liga (760 matches) were evaluated, considering the period before and after the COVID-19 interruption. Match data was obtained from websites such as www.transfermarkt.com and www.statsperform.com/opta/. Performance indicators, including the number of shots, on-target shots, successful pass percentage, successful pass count, and corner kicks, were compared across leagues before and after the pandemic. Dependent samples t-tests were employed for data analysis. The findings indicate a decrease in the average number of shots, on-target shots, and corner statistics across all leagues, while passing and successful passing statistics have shown an increase. In the case of the English Premier League, there was a statistically significant decrease in the average number of shots after the interruption (t=2.373, p=0.028). However, no statistically significant difference was found in on-target shots, passing, successful passing, and corner kick averages for EPL teams (p>0.05). Bundesliga teams also experienced a statistically significant decrease in shot averages after the pandemic (t=2.417, p=0.028). Similarly, there was a statistically significant difference in on-target shot averages for Bundesliga teams before and after COVID-19 (t=2.497, p=0.023). La Liga teams exhibited a significant change in successful pass rates (t=-3.470, p=0.003). However, there was no statistically significant difference in successful pass counts and corner kick averages for La Liga teams before and after COVID-19 (p>0.05). According to the study's results, after the pandemic interruption, shot averages decreased in all leagues, except Serie A, on-target shot averages decreased in all leagues, corner kick averages decreased in all leagues, and passing and successful passing rates increased across all leagues.

Keywords

• Football
• Covid-19
• Performans
• Technical-Tactical Performance

Covid-19 Pandemisi Nedeniyle Avrupa Futbol Liglerinde Verilen Aranın Takım Performanslarına Etkilerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma Covid-19 pandemisi nedeniyle futbol liglerine 2019-2020 sezonunda verilen aranın takım performanslarına etkisinin incelenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışmada 2019-2020 sezonunda oynanan İtalya Serie A’dan 760, Almanya Bundesliga’dan 612, İngiltere Premier Lig’den 760 ve İspanya La Liga liginden 760 olmak üzere toplam 2982 müsabaka Covid-19 nedeniyle verilen ara öncesi ve sonrası ele alınarak değerlendirilmiştir. Müsabakalara ait veriler www.transfermarkt.com, www.statsperform.com/opta/ websitelerinden elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler Şut sayısı, İsabetli Şut sayısı, Başarılı Pas Yüzdesi, Başarılı Pas Sayısı ve Korner sayısı gibi performans göstergelerinin ara öncesi ve sonrasına göre liglere göre karşılaştırılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde bağımlı örneklemler t testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgulara göre tüm liglerde takımların ortalama şut, isabetli şut, korner istatistikleri düşüş, pas ve isabetli pas istatistikleri ise yükseliş göstermiştir. Bulgular: İngiltere Premier Lig takımlarının şut ortalamaları ara sonrasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı şekilde düşmüştür (t=2,373, p=0,028). EPL takımlarının isabetli şut, pas, başarılı pas ve korner ortalamalarında ise Covid-19 öncesi ve sonrası arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık tespit edilmemiştir (p>0,05). Bundesliga takımlarının şut ortalamaları ara sonrasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı şekilde düşmüştür (t=2,417, p=0,028). Aynı şekilde Bundesliga takımlarının isabetli şut ortalamaları da Covid-19 öncesi ve sonrası arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık göstermiştir (t=2,497, p=0,023). La Liga takımlarının başarılı pas oranı anlamlı olarak farklıdır (t=-3,470, p=0,003). La Liga takımlarının başarılı pas sayısı ve korner ortalamaları için Covid-19 öncesi ve sonrası arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık tespit edilmemiştir (p>0,05). Sonuç: Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre, ara sonrası dönemde şut ortalamalarının tüm liglerde düştüğü, isabetli şut ortalamasının Serie A hariç diğer liglerde düştüğü, korner ortalamalarının tüm liglerde düştüğü, pas ve isabetli pas oranlarının ise tüm liglerde arttığı görülmüştür.

Keywords

• Futbol
• Covid-19
• Performans
• Teknik-Taktik Performans

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