Ageing effects on match physical performance in elite soccer during fixture congestion

Authors

  • Juan Solla Aguiar Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
  • Luis Casais Martinez Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
  • Miguel Lorenzo Martinez Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
  • Ricardo Resta Department of Competitions and Mediacoach, LaLiga, Madrid, Spain.
  • Carlos Lago Peñas Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.543711
Keywords: Age, Soccer, Match-Related Physical Performance, Congested Periods

Abstract

The number of matches played by elite soccer teams throughout the season has increased dramatically in recent years. The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of a fixture congestion on the physical performance of elite players. The sample consisted of 2,971 Spanish LaLiga matches including the physical performance of 346 different players during the 2018-2019 season who played two consecutive matches with incomplete (<4 days) or complete (>5 days) recovery. The following categories were considered: total distance, running distance at low speed (0–14 km·h-1), running distance at medium speed (14.1–21 km·h-1), high speed distance (21.1–24 0–14 km·h-1), distance covered by sprint (>24 km·h-1), number of sprints >24 km·h-1, number of sprints 21-24 km·h-1 and number of sprints <21 km·h-1. Physical performance data was recorded using a multi-camera computerized tracking system. To analyze the differences in the physical performance of the players according to the age group (17-23 years, 24-27 years, 28-30 years and 31-38 years) a linear mixed model was performed. The results suggest that there are no significant differences in any of the categories of physical performance or age group despite having more or fewer recovery days.

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Published
15-04-2025
How to Cite
Aguiar, J. S., Casais Martinez, L., Martinez, M. L., Resta, R., & Peñas, C. L. (2025). Ageing effects on match physical performance in elite soccer during fixture congestion. SPORT TK-EuroAmerican Journal of Sport Sciences, 14, 25. https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.543711
Issue
Vol. 14 (2025)
Section
Articles

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The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:

1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.

© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013

2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.

3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.