Match and compensatory training external load in professional football: A metabolic power analysis

Danail Georgiev Ivanov

doi:10.20527/multilateral.v25i2.26105

Match and compensatory training external load in professional football: A metabolic power analysis

Danail Georgiev Ivanov

Abstract

Background. Compensatory training sessions (MD+1) play a critical role in football microcycle management, yet systematic comparisons with competitive match demands using metabolic power remain limited, and no such comparison has been reported in Bulgarian professional football. Objectives. The purpose of this retrospective observational pilot study was to compare the external load profiles of competitive matches and compensatory (MD+1) training sessions in a professional Bulgarian first-division football club, using average metabolic power (AMP) as the primary discriminant metric. Method. GPS data (Barin Sports PRO, 10 Hz) were retrospectively analyzed from two match–training session pairs: Match 1 (07.02.2025)/Training 1 (08.02.2025) and Match 2 (08.03.2025)/Training 2 (09.03.2025). Variables included total distance, AMP, sprint count, sprint distance, accelerations, decelerations, and top speed. Training-to-match ratios were expressed as percentages against a 50% adequacy criterion. Results. Total distance ratios were 85.7% and 88.2% (mean 86.9%); AMP ratios were 71.3% and 77.5% (mean 74.4%), both exceeding the 50% threshold. Sprint count reached only 43.2% of match values, and sprint distance 46.0%. Accelerations exceeded match values (112.9%), while decelerations reached 72.4%. Conclusion. Compensatory sessions replicated metabolic intensity adequately but revealed a persistent sprint-specific deficit. AMP demonstrated greater discriminant sensitivity than total distance for evaluating MD+1 session adequacy in professional football.

Keywords

GPS; metabolic power; training load; football; MD+1

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.20527/multilateral.v25i2.26105