Surprising fans one metric at a time
LALIGA fans are some of the most passionate in the world—that much is obvious after just five minutes in Camp Nou, with 100,000 strong chanting and cheering. Even “casual” fans could rattle off facts about their club that would put hardcore supporters of other major sports to shame. It’s that devotion that gives way to a thirst for deeper knowledge, not only for their team but for soccer as a whole.
Basic stats alone don’t tell the story of how Real Madrid’s switch to a 4-4-2 can impact Vini Júnior’s effectiveness on the wing. Sure, goals are important, but what about the high-impact offensive actions that lead to every goal-scoring chance?
They yearn for tools that dig beyond the surface, uncovering hidden metrics and insights for a level of understanding that equals their undying love for the game.
LALIGA first launched the cutting-edge data analysis platform Mediacoach over a decade ago, changing the way teams use match data. More recently, LALIGA and Microsoft have collaborated on Beyond Stats, providing over 50 game-enhancing metrics. As a top league in global soccer with a worldwide audience of over 2.8 billion, LALIGA is at the forefront of providing engaging fan experiences on and off the field—from their players’ ability to dazzle on the pitch to the insights they offer spectators eager to predict which team will dominate the season. Using Microsoft Azure-based tracking and camera technology, Beyond Stats provides fans with a next-level analysis of the intricacies of the league, surprising even the most-die-hard fanatics with its scope and level of detail.
Shockingly close to the game
During a match, players move swiftly across the entire field, which requires up to 16 fixed cameras for optical tracking around the perimeter of every stadium to catch all 3.5 million data points per game. LALIGA then processes this data through Mediacoach, which is made available to clubs as well as delivered to fans through match broadcasts and digital content. By using a mix of custom algorithms and AI, LALIGA’s data strategy is to give clubs the insights they need to adapt their training schedules, study opponents, and prepare for match days—and allow fans unprecedented access to next-level knowledge about their clubs.
Whether it’s knowing which FC Barcelona player is best positioned to surpass his number of assists last season or understanding how Atlético de Madrid manages to concede so few goals, Beyond Stats provides the answers. The raw data is captured and processed by Mediacoach then presented in a range of accessible dashboards that allow LALIGA to sort, filter, and pinpoint key metric insights for fans.
Surprisingly easy to understand
These metrics showcase the stunning ways that LALIGA will be able to harness data and metrics to create engaging, tailored experiences—and usher in an exciting new era for fans, the media, and the sport at large.
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Goal probability
Taking into account the position of the players, the ball, the distance to the goal line, and other parameters, this model calculates the probability of each player scoring—almost in real time.
Completed dribbles
A completed dribble is defined by an offensive player beating the defender while retaining possession, assessing how successful they are at maneuvering opponents on the attack.
Dangerous recoveries
The team can also pinpoint exactly how often a player makes a ball recovery in an advantageous position close to the opponent’s goal.
