Table 1 Match technical performance by ranking position

Goals scored

1.99 ± 0.38^b,c

1.36 ± 0.28^a,c

0.93 ± 0.11^a,b

28.91

 ≤ 0.01

0.64

Goals conceded

1.24 ± 0.26^b.c

1.54 ± 0.25^a.c

1.86 ± 0.30^a.b

12.09

 ≤ 0.01

0.42

Shots on goal

14.63 ± 1.93^b,c

12.67 ± 1.74^a

11.29 ± 0.70^a

8.91

 ≤ 0.01

0.35

Shots on goal allowed

10.83 ± 1.72^b,c

13.93 ± 1.01^a

15.09 ± 1.33^a

27.55

 ≤ 0.01

0.63

Missed shots on goal

12.69 ± 1.66^c

11.33 ± 1.58

10.39 ± 0.68^a

5.33

 ≤ 0.01

0.24

Shots off target

4.60 ± 0.82

4.19 ± 0.64

3.94 ± 0.32

2.35

0.11

0.13

Blocked shots on goal

3.54 ± 0.44^b

3.07 ± 0.50^a

3.11 ± 0.30

4.24

0.02

0.20

Saved shots on goal by GK

3.66 ± 0.54^b,c

3.21 ± 0.47^a

2.67 ± 0.25^a

9.20

 ≤ 0.01

0.36

Successful passes from OP

417.13 ± 91.13^b,c

297.46 ± 40.35^a

286.66 ± 24.31^a

16.28

 ≤ 0.01

0.50

Unsuccessful passes from OP

69.99 ± 5.75

69.94 ± 5.91

69.12 ± 2.29

0.06

0.94

0.00

Successful crosses from OP

2.52 ± 0.68^b,c

2.43 ± 0.53^a

2.13 ± 0.59^a

0.87

0.43

0.05

Unsuccessful crosses from OP

7.91 ± 1.77

7.51 ± 1.61

7.74 ± 1.20

0.23

0.79

0.01

Successful passes from SP

18.59 ± 1.40

17.83 ± 1.33

18.94 ± 0.69

2.25

0.12

0.12

Unsuccessful passes from SP

4.80 ± 1.51^b,c

6.76 ± 1.56^a

7.12 ± 0.67^a

8.20

 ≤ 0.01

0.33

Successful crosses from SP

1.78 ± 0.45

1.60 ± 0.30

1.41 ± 0.25

2.34

0.11

0.12

Unsuccessful crosses from SP

3.68 ± 0.63^b

3.15 ± 0.38^a

3.64 ± 0.42

5.06

 ≤ 0.01

0.24

Clearances

7.74 ± 2.46

9.73 ± 2.12

10.73 ± 3.48

3.62

0.04

0.18

Corner kicks

5.45 ± 1.12^b

4.54 ± 0.52^a

4.75 ± 0.75

4.76

0.02

0.22

Assists

1.40 ± 0.33^b,c

0.90 ± 0.22^a

0.62 ± 0.04^a

23.21

 ≤ 0.01

0.58

Aerial duels won

20.16 ± 3.21^b

23.88 ± 3.30^a

23.25 ± 2.54

5.14

 ≤ 0.01

0.24

Aerial duels lost

19.54 ± 2.18^b,c

23.85 ± 3.05^a

24.57 ± 1.90^a

11.83

 ≤ 0.01

0.42

Ground duels won

81.37 ± 4.90

77.10 ± 4.32

78.00 ± 4.43

3.27

0.05

0.17

Ground duels lost

78.59 ± 6.89

78.56 ± 4.06

79.17 ± 6.06

0.03

0.97

0.00

Counter attacks

0.24 ± 0.08

0.19 ± 0.12

0.12 ± 0.04

3.05

0.06

0.16

Offsides

2.19 ± 0.32

1.95 ± 0.46

1.84 ± 0.26

2.02

0.15

0.11

Fouls

11.27 ± 2.37^b

12.92 ± 1.21^a

12.15 ± 1.49

3.28

0.05

0.16

Fouls from the opponent

12.37 ± 1.51

11.93 ± 1.34

12.96 ± 1.37

1.27

0.29

0.07

Hand games

0.59 ± 0.15

0.62 ± 0.18

0.63 ± 0.14

0.21

0.81

0.01

Yellow cards

1.49 ± 0.33

1.72 ± 0.22

1.75 ± 0.14

3.72

0.04

0.18

Yellow–red cards

0.02 ± 0.03^c

0.04 ± 0.04

0.07 ± 0.04^a

4.54

0.02

0.22

Red cards

0.03 ± 0.04

0.03 ± 0.03

0.04 ± 0.04

0.39

0.68

0.02

Ball possession (%)

54.85 ± 4.79^b,c

47.67 ± 2.23^a

47.30 ± 1.64^a

19.97

 ≤ 0.01

0.55