Defensive pressure strategies and their impact on offensive play in elite women’s football
A summary of the research:
Research has looked at how teams attack in elite women's soccer, but there hasn't been much study on how a team's defense right after losing the ball affects the opponent's attack. This study aimed to fill that gap by specifically looking at the relationship between defensive pressure (trying to win the ball back right away) and the way the opposing team starts their attack in high-level games, using data from the UEFA Women's Champions League 2023/2024 season.
The researchers watched and analyzed 1,324 plays from 13 matches involving 16 teams, using a special tool to record details about what happened when a team lost the ball and how the other team attacked. The main finding was that applying defensive pressure after losing the ball changed the opponent's attack. When teams pressured, the opponent's attacks were more direct, involved fewer passes and players, lasted for shorter periods, and were less effective overall. The study also found that factors like the current score, the stage of the game, and where the ball was won back influenced whether a team chose to press.
Based on these results, here are three key practical takeaways for coaches and administrators in women's soccer:
Emphasize and Train Immediate Defensive Pressure: The study shows that putting pressure on the opponent right after losing the ball is an effective way to regain possession and make their attack less dangerous. Coaches should make this a priority in training, especially practicing how to win the ball back quickly when the opponent makes an error or loses control (a turnover), as this situation was strongly linked to successful pressure.
Prepare for and Exploit Opponent's Rushed Attacks: When your team applies pressure, the study found the opponent tends to resort to quicker, more direct attacks with fewer players involved. Coaches can use this knowledge to prepare their defenders to handle these specific types of attacks and also train the team to transition quickly into their own counter-attack once the ball is won back from a pressured opponent.
Teach Players to Adapt Pressure Based on Game Situation: The decision to press isn't one-size-fits-all; the study showed situational factors like the score (winning, drawing, losing), the time remaining in the match, and the team's location (home/away) influence when pressure is applied. Coaches should train players to recognize these different scenarios and adjust their pressing strategy – including intensity and where on the field they press – to be most effective based on the specific context of the game.
Authors: Casal, Claudio A., Losada, José L., de Benito, Ana María, Maneiro, Rubén, Iván-Baragaño, I.
You can read the entire article here.
