title: Physical Activity during a Prolonged Congested Period in a Top-Class European Football Team.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine the variation in physical activity of elite soccer players within successive prolonged periods of fixture congestion over 5 months of competition during the competitive season 2011-2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen international players, classified into 6 positions (central defenders: CD; full-backs: FB; central defensive midfielders: CDM; wide midfielders: WM; central attacking midfielders: CAM; forwards: FW), were examined during the French First League, French Cup, and UEFA Champion's League matches. The total distance covered at light (<12 km.h(-1)), sustained-cruising (>18-21 km.h(-1)), high (>21-23 km.h(-1)), very high (>23-25 km.h(-1)), sub-maximal (>25-27 km.h(-1)), and maximal (>27 km.h(-1)) intensity running (IR) were measured and analysed using a semi-automatic match analysis system (Amisco Pro™).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were observed between congested and non-congested periods (two vs. one match a week, respectively) for the total distance covered at all the speed thresholds over 18 km.h(-1), with no variation in physical fitness over the 5 studied months. Specifically to the playing positions, regardless of the congestion periods, FB and WM covered more distance than CDM over 21km.h(-1); FB, WM and FW covered similar distances for all running intensities; and CD and CDM covered shorter distance during non-congested compared to congested periods (P<0.05) at light-IR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study reveals that prolonged congested match fixture did not affect the high-intensity physical activity of top-class soccer players during official games during a 5 months fixture period.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport (CRIS), Université de Lyon 1, France.
authors.forename: Léo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Djaoui
authors.affiliation: Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Del P
authors.initials: del P
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport (CRIS), Université de Lyon 1, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pialoux
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport (CRIS), Université de Lyon 1, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hautier
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Centre, Aspetar, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chamari
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport (CRIS), Université de Lyon 1, France ; Laboratory of "Sport Performance Optimization", National Centre of Medicine and Science in Sports, University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia ; FIFA Medical Excellence Centre, Santy Orthopedicae clinical, sport science and research department, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dellal
keywords: Fitness Training; High-Intensity Running; Match Congestion; Motion Analysis; Soccer; Work Rate