An analysis of offensive play between DF and MF in soccer

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of the attacking plays between midfielder (MF) and defender (DF) in Japanese J. League (JL). In order to achieve the purpose, we compared JL and German Bundesliga (BL), and compared the top 4 teams of JL with the bottom 4 teams of JL. The sample set comprised 40 matches: 20 BL matches (from the 2015-2016 season) and 20 JL matches (from the 2015 season), and 32matches played directly against the top 4 teams and bottom 4 teams of JL (from the 2016 season). A chi-squared test were used for statistical analysis. Our findings were as follows: (1) BL and the top 4 teams of JL had more scoring opportunities than JL and the bottom 4 teams of JL. (2) Compared with BL, JL had more goal-side DFs and fewer forward play. This was thought to lead to less scoring opportunities. (3) Compared with the bottom 4 teams of JL, the top 4 teams of JL had more forward play when there was no goal-side DF. This was thought to lead to more scoring opportunities.