Analysis of tactical performance through network science in the finalist teams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v79.119106Keywords:
Football, competition, complexity , interactions, tactical performanceAbstract
Introduction: complex network analysis is a tool for identifying and interpreting patterns of collective interaction in football.
Objective: to compare the structure of the passing networks of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea across seven matches in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Methodology: a quantitative, non-experimental, longitudinal and descriptive-comparative study based on network analysis was conducted, analysing 14 passing networks (7 per team). Centrality and cohesion metrics were calculated (Clustering, Closeness, Betweenness, PageRank, Eigenvector, Authority and Hub). The analysis included descriptive statistics (median and interquartile range) and the Kruskal-Wallis test (p ≤ .05), given the absence of normality (Shapiro-Wilk) and the sample size.
Results: both teams exhibit similar behaviour in the interactions employed. Significant differences are limited to the final match, in which the two teams faced each other. The Clustering Coefficient shows higher values for PSG, whilst Chelsea is characterised by higher values in the Authority and Hub metrics.
Discussion: the results are consistent with previous studies, as there are no significant differences in the characteristics of the passing network between top-level teams.
Conclusions: Elite teams tend to develop balanced collective structures, where participation in ball circulation is distributed.
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