This study analyzed defense/attack transitions of Atlético Madrid soccer team across two seasons to identify patterns. The majority of ball recoveries and first passes occurred in midfield. Most transitions involved 1-3 players and 1-3 passes. Atlético Madrid tended to switch sides after recovery more in 2016/2017 compared to 2015/2016. The study concludes Atlético Madrid practices a vertical style through the midfield to transition quickly into attack.

1. Study about ball recovery zones and its influence on
defense/attack transition in soccer.
Defense/attack transition
João Sousa & Henrique Soares

2. Defense/attack transition 2
Study about ball recovery zones and its influence on defense/attack transition in soccer.
Abstract
Being soccer one of the most difficult sports to analyze due to the complexity of the play,
it has been dificult to find some scientific evidence studying this phenomenon (defense/attack
transition). For that reason we thought to be pertinent developing a study aiming to find some
evidence and consistent results about defense/attack transition. For that porpuse we aimed to
study and characterize the defense/attack transition of Club Atlético Madrid. Its vital to specify
that our attention was concern only to counter and fast attacks. For the realization of our study,
we analyzed six senior football games from Club Atlético de Madrid, referring to the season
2015/16 (3 games) and also 2016/2017 (3 games), which were taken 91 sequences of defense-
attack transitions, to conduct a review. In this way, were collected 6 recordings of televised
games, having as adversaries the same teams in the two different seasons, which are: Football
Club Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona and Valencia Football Club. To acomplishe our goal, we
analyzed existing connections between players during and after the ball recovery, including the
number of passes and number of players involved in its defensive, middle and offensive zone
and the privileged side, as a way to check for game trends for the offensive transition (defense-
attack). We also intend to identify the areas of the pitch most requested to recover the ball and
posteriorly conduct the play.
Keywords: analysis,team performance,offensive transition,observation.

3. Defense/attack transition 3
Introduction
Soccer is one of the most popular team sports world-wide. Soccer is also one of the most
difficult sports to analyze quantitatively due to the complexity of the play and to the nearly
uninterrupted flow of the ball during the match. Unlike baseball or basketball, for which there is
mutch more of statistical performance data detailing how each player contributes to the final
result, and in soccer it is not trivial to define quantitative measures of an individual’s contribution
(Duch J, Waitzman JS & Amaral LAN , 2010).
Certain types of behavior of teams, especially during the offensive transition, appear to
be linked to collective tactical efficiency within the sport. Therefore it can be said that,
considering the transition as fundamental to the offensive phase, central variables for assessing
the quality of transition defense-attack are the places and forms of recovery of the ball. (Santos,
R.; Moraes, E. & Costa, I. , 2015)
Its considered offensive transition all technical, tactical and strategic actions developed
since a team recovers the ball in play and try to explore the collective reorganization in the
opposing team, for optimal progression of the ball and conclusion.(Sanjurjo, C , Lopez, J. &
Suarez, T. ,2015)
Thus, it is understood that the location and the type of action are important parameters
for observation and identification of behavioral patterns of the teams during the offensive phase.
To be able to identify locations where there are certain actions, it is necessary the delimitation of
sectors in the field. Still, parameters to identify the type of action to recover the ball are essential
for the observation and analysis during the transition (Santos, R.; Moraes, E. & Costa, I. ,2015).
For instance, an analysis of how goals are scored can reveal critical factors that will help
determine the most appropriate attacking strategy, briefly to obtain winning formula
(Mitrotasios, M. & Armatas, V. ,2014).
Some studies were conducted on the goals achieved at the World Championships, and
concluded that an efficient and effective offensive game is related to the ball recovery next to the

4. Defense/attack transition 4
opposing goal, and a quick transition defense / attack (Gréhaigne, J., Bouthier, D. & David, B.
,1997).
Hughes and Franks (2005) showed that in the 1990 and 1994 World Cup tournaments
84% and 80% of goals respectively came from possessions of four or less passes. The same
autors also concluded that the number of conclusions with long pass was significant, showing its
importance.
On the other hand, Benjamin (1968) showed that approximately 80% of goals scored
were the result of a short sequence of three or less passes. (Mitrotasios, M. & Armatas, V. ,2014)
In view of the foregoing, this study aimed to characterize the transition defense / attack
of a football team. To this, we analyzed existing connections between players during and after
the ball recovery, including the number of passes and number of players involved in its
defensive, middle and offensive zone and the privileged side aisles, as a way to check for game
trends for the offensive transition (defense-attack). We also intend to identify the areas of the
pitch most requested to recover the ball and posteriorly conduct the play.
.
Methods
For the realization of our study, we analyzed six senior football games from Club Atlético
de Madrid, referring to the season 2015/16 (3 games) and also 2016/2017 (3 games), which were
taken 91 sequences of defense-attack transitions, to conduct a review.
In this way, were collected 6 recordings of televised games, having as adversaries the
same teams in the two different seasons, which are: Football Club Bayen Munich, FC Barcelona
and Valencia Football Club.
Our data collection was performed using the 1.0 LongoMatch video analysis software
according to the following criteria: 1. ball recovery / defense- attack transition. 2. Ball Recovery
Sector (defensive, midfield, offensive); 3. Ball Recovery Side (Left Wing, Center, Right Wing); 4.
If the 1st pass is short / long; 5. The sector of the 1st pass (defensive, midfield, offensive); 6.

5. Defense/attack transition 5
The side of the 1st
pass (Left wing, Center, Right Wing) 7. If there is variation in the side on
transition play; 8. If it is a goal or not; 9. The number of players included in the transition (1-3, 4-
7, 8-11); 10. The number of passes performed in the transition (1-3; 4-7; 8-11).
All variables were observed, achieved and characterized through the division of the field
as in figure 1.
I. Figure1: Soccer field divided by: sectors (defensive, midfield, offensive) and side/corridor
(right wing, center and left wing)

6. Defense/attack transition 6
Results and discussion
II. Figure2: Descriptive table about the observed variables.
Legend: Def- Defensive, Mid-Midfield; Off- Offensive; Right W- Right Wing; Left W- Left
Wing;
III. Figure3: Observed variables on defense/attack transition(Effect size).
Season Recovery
Sector
Recovery
Side
1st pass 1st pass
Sector
1ºpass
Side
Nº
Players
Nº passes Change of
side
Goal
2016/
2017
Def
17(33%)
Right W
14(27%)
Short
40(77%)
Def
6(12%)
Right W
12(23%)
1-3
33(71%)
1-3
37(63%) Yes
33(63%)
Yes
2(4%)Mid
34(65%)
Center
24(46%)
Mid
43(83%)
Center
29(56%)
4-7
15(23%)
4-7
14(34%)Long
12(23%) No
19(37%)
No
50(96%)
Off 1(2%) Left W
14(27%)
Off
3 (5%)
Left W
9 (21%)
8-11
3 (6%)
8-11
1 (3%)
2015/
2016
Def
9 (23%)
Right W
11(28%)
Short
30(77%)
Def
7 (18%)
Right W
6 (20%)
1-3
23(55%)
1-3
24(62%)
Yes
11(29%)
Yes
3 (8%)
Mid
25(64%)
Center
18(46%)
Mid
26(67%)
Center
25(64%)
4-7
10(26%)
4-7
11(28%)Long
9 (23%)
No
28(71%)
No
36(91%)Off
5 (13%)
Left W
10(26%)
Off
6 (15%)
Left W
8 (16%)
8-11
6 (19%)
8-11
4 (10%)

7. Defense/attack transition 7
IV: Figure 4: Observed variables on defense/attack transition(Effect size).
Through the table (Figure 2) we can analyze how Club Atlético de Madrid managed to
build several defense-attack transitions.
Thus, in both seasons the Spanish team recovered more balls in the midfield sector, with
values 65% (2016/2017) and 64% (2015/2016). As for the recovery side, the central one was
evident in the two seasons, being the same value for the different seasons (46%). After these two
variables, we analyzed how the 1st pass is performed after the recovery and in both seasons was
the short pass that was most evident. It is clear that the sector where the 1st pass was made for
the most times (in average, 83% in the 2016/2017 season and 67% in the 2015/2016 season), it
was in the midfield.
Thus, the number of players who performed the most transitions was centered on the
interval of 1-3 at different seasons.
Given this, the Madrilena team scored more goals by defense/attack transition in the
2015/2016 season (3 goals in 3 games) than the other season (2 goals in 3 games).

8. Defense/attack transition 8
Thus, we conclude that Club Atlético Madrid carries out most of its defense-attack
transitions by the middle part of the pitch, thus opting for a more vertical game.
Through Figure 3 and 4, we can better visualize the differences between the different
seasons, being statisticaly pertinent to refer the facts the althought in the both seasons this team
share the same style of play , in 2016/2017 we can highlight the fact that existis even more
recoverys and conductions of the play by center part of the field, more plays with one to three
players and using between one and three passes. It is also notable that the this team in
2016/2017 performed more corridor(or side) variations 63% than in the previous season, with
71% of the negative value. This particular result can make us think, because in our point of view
from one season to another the manager maybe adopted a little different style of play, trying to
after the ball recovery, rapidly put the ball out of the pressure, and for consequence the best
solution could be change sides quickly.
It´s important to clarify that in Figure 3 there is not any evidence about recovery balls in
the offensive sector and 1st
pass to defensive and 1st
pass to offensive sector because the data we
collected was not enough to produce error bars about those variables. In figure 4 the same
problem ocurred about number of passes and players (8-11). All these results can be seen at
figure 2.
Comparing our study with others, it is clear that ours results oppose those of Hughes and
Franks (2005), since they showed us that it was through the long pass that the teams effectively
performed the offensive transitions , and our study allowed us to verify that the most of
transitions were performed through the short pass.
On the other hand Benjamin (1968) according to Mitrotasios, M. & Armatas, V.(2014),
showed us that approximately 80% of goals scored were the result of a short sequence of three
or less passes, and we can confirm trought our study that the most changes created to score (by
defense/attack transition) are by short sequence of passes, in this case one to three passes.

9. Defense/attack transition 9
Conclusions
In short, our study showed that the Madrid team did not differentiate very much from
their offensive transition style, since it was the mid-sector and the central side (or corridor)
proved to be the most intended path for the team to reach the goal, confirming that Colchonera
team tries to practice a vertical game in order to try to score.
We also conclude that their defense/attack transitions are very quick, using the most
times one to three players and between one and three passes, looking to explore the collective
reorganization in rival defense.
This study prompts the trainer/observer/reader to verify how defense/attack transitions
are performed and also to notice how a soccer team may act using this style of play.

10. Defense/attack transition 10
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