Shots, shots on target, ball possession, pass, and pass accuracy: do they differentiate between qualified and non-qualified teams? An analysis of the 2022 edition of the men's professional paulista football championship
Abstract
The performance of football teams during competitions is an increasingly relevant topic in sports science. In this study, we investigated the performance of 192 matches in the group stage of the 2022 Professional Men's First Division Paulista Football Championship - Series A1, exploring performance variables and their correlations using publicly available data. Our results revealed significant differences between teams that qualified and those that did not for the next phase of the competition. Qualified teams showed higher averages in shots (p=0.020), ball possession (p=0.001), passes (p<0.001), and pass accuracy (p=0.035). Significantly positive correlations were observed between shots and shots on target (r = 0.56), number of passes (r = 0.24), ball possession (r = 0.32), and pass accuracy (r = 0.27). Furthermore, strong correlations were found between passes and ball possession (r = 0.90) and pass accuracy (r = 0.82). The variety of tactical systems used by qualified teams was lower compared to non-qualified teams. Based on our results, we suggest that performance in key metrics such as shots, ball possession, and passes plays a crucial role in the success of teams participating in the Paulista Championship. Additionally, the consistent choice of tactical systems appears to be relevant for competitive success. Our findings contribute to understanding the factors influencing sports performance in professional football.
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