Off-the-Ball Attacking Tactical Actions Preceding Open-Play Goals in Professional Football

This study analysed the off-the-ball attacking tactical actions (OBATA) performed by goalscorers within a maximum of three seconds before receiving the final pass leading to open-play goals in the Spanish First Division during the 2024–2025 season. The sample comprised 694 open-play goals across all 360 matches. An observational study was conducted using the ad hoc OBATA instrument, which demonstrated content validity and high inter- and intra-observer reliability (κ > 0.97). Movement behind the opponent (MBO) and body-oriented reception (BOR) were the predominant actions. Significant associations were found between the finishing zone and tactical action (V = 0.240, p < 0.001) and between the finishing zone and the number of touches (V = 0.179, p < 0.001). Within the penalty area, Zone 1 Right was associated with MBO and Zone 1 Left with movement alongside the opponent; both zones were associated with one-touch finishes. Goals scored from outside the penalty area were associated with BOR, two-touch sequences, and sequences involving more than three touches. OBATA were associated with the spatial context of finishing, indicating that different off-the-ball actions characterised goal-scoring sequences across finishing zones. These findings may inform the design of training tasks in youth football incorporating specific off-the-ball movements in game situations preceding finishing, although the effectiveness of these applications remains to be established.