Offensive versus Defensive Football: What Drives Success in the UEFA Champions’ League?

Abstract

Assessing the relative contribution of offensive and defensive football to success in the UEFA Champion’s League, data related to the 513 clubs that have taken part to competition between 1955 and 2019 are analyzed using regression models. After controlling for the number of participations and teams playing in one of the four major European leagues –La Liga, Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga– it is found that both offensive and defensive football can lead to success in the competition. Indeed, offensive and defensive football both have a significant impact on the number of titles won and their relative contributions are found to be equal. Both tactical approaches also have a significant impact on the number of matches won in the competition; even though the relative contribution of offensive football is bigger. Furthermore, only offensive football is found to have a significant impact on the number of points earned in the competition. Finally, it is found that poor offensive and poor defensive football both have a significant impact on the number of matches lost in the Champion’s League; with the relative contribution of a poor defensive performance being more pronounced.

Keywords

• Soccer,Offensive strategy,defensive strategy,champions' league

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