Offensive phase completion of ‘pep’ guardiola: F.C. Barcelona vs Manchester City
Abstract
This study aims to analyze and compare, through observational methodology, the completion sequences of two teams managed by coach Pep Guardiola - F.C. Barcelona and Manchester City - during their two highest-scoring league seasons until the start of the study (2011/2012 and 2018/2019 respectively). To achieve this, three levels of success in their actions were identified: plays ending in a goal, a shot, or a pass into the penalty area. The sample consisted of 20 matches, ten from each team, against the strongest opponents in each competition. A quantitative data analysis was conducted using Pearson's Chi-square statistic (χ2) to compare the actions that ended in the success criteria and those that did not. The results indicate that F.C. Barcelona was able to score in 2.6% of their offensive actions, while Manchester City did so in 1.8% of their sequences. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the elaboration, density, and duration of plays that ended with a pass into the penalty area, with a more elaborate, dense, and longer-lasting style of play for the Spanish team. The study's conclusions suggest that, although both teams exhibit similarities in the frequency of success in shots and goals, there are key differences in the complexity and structure of their offensive plays, reflecting the tendencies of both teams in their approach to attacking the opponent's goal.
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