The Role of Throw-ins in the UEFA Champions League: A Tactical Analysis

Background: This study investigates the tactical role of throw-ins during the 2022–2023 UEFA Champions League season, focusing on their impact on attacking productivity across multiple parameters such as field zone, direction, length, and body targeting method. Method: A total of 2,855 throw-ins were analysed using logistic regression to assess their effectiveness based on variables like throw-in location (zone), direction, and the body height they targeted. Results: Short, upward-directed, and backward-passing throw-ins in the final third significantly increased the likelihood of a positive outcome (e.g. shot, corner, goal kick) (p < 0.05). Throw-ins targeting above the waist were 3.51 times, and those in the final third 1.93 times, more likely to yield positive results. Advancing teams had a higher rate of successful throw-ins compared to eliminated teams. Conclusion: Throw-ins function as strategic micro-tactical tools rather than simple restarts, contributing to possession, attack initiation, and positional advantage. Their effective use appears to correlate with team success, addressing a key gap in the literature. Keywords: soccer, tactic, match analysis, set pieces