The Beautiful Game: How Data Visualization Can Change Football On and Off the Field

Visually analysing direct set pieces in football using StatsBomb Data, R, and Tableau

May 21 2008. Moscow. Rain is pouring in the Luzhniki Stadium as John Terry steps up to take the penalty that will win the Champions League for the first time in Chelsea’s history.

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That fateful night in Moscow is best remembered for the rain- and tear-streaked face of the Chelsea captain as Manchester United players wheel away in delight after winning the coveted European trophy. Less well remembered was the close friend and advisor of Chelsea manager Avram Grant: Spanish Professor Ignacio Palacios Huerta.

Huerta, dubbed “the penalty doctor” for his work on linking economic game theory to penalty kicks, provided some invaluable information to the Chelsea manager before the game. Firstly, he observed that United Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar had historically displayed a strong tendency to dive to his right. Secondly, Cristiano Ronaldo tends to shoot to the goalkeeper’s right when he stutters in his run up. Before Terry missed his decisive penalty, four Chelsea players successfully scored to Van der Sar’s left. When Ronaldo stuttered during his run up, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech remained stationary, before diving to his right and saving the Portugese striker’s effort.

In a final bout of drama, Frenchman Nicolas Anelka stepped up to keep Chelsea in the penalty shoot out (Terry’s penalty is often remembered as the one that lost the final, when in fact it only drew United level at 4–4). As Anelka stepped back, Van der Sar stood in the goal pointing to his left. He had worked Chelsea’s instruction out. Anelka now stood there facing a goalkeeper who knew where he had been told to shoot. The mind games were too much for Anelka, who went against his instruction and shot right. The rest was history.