Effects of match location on playing tactics for goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer

The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the effect of match location on soccer playing tactics by assessing opponent interaction. The sample included 203 goals and 1688 random team possessions ('controls'). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed significant differences in the odds ratio for goal scoring in the interaction between playing tactics and match locations. For the variable 'team possession type' ([chi square]=5.05, P=0. 025), counter attack (24.5%) and elaborate attack (21.8%) produced goals in higher percentages of attempts at home than away (19.8% and 20.5%), with counter attack being more effective than elaborate attack when playing against an imbalanced defence at home, but not away. Assessment of opponent interaction is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of playing tactics on the probability for scoring goals according to match location.
That sports teams in balanced competitions achieve better results when playing at home than away from home, is a consistent finding (Carron, Loughhead, & Bray, 2005; Nevill & Holder, 1999). [...]