The Advantage of Scoring Just Before the Halftime Break – Pure Myth? Quasi-Experimental Evidence From European Football

29 Pages Posted: 19 Aug 2019

See all articles by Philippe Meier

Philippe Meier

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration

Raphael Flepp

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW)

Maximilian Rüdisser

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW)

Egon P. Franck

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW)

Date Written: July 31, 2019

Abstract

We examine whether the moment just before the halftime break is a particularly good time to score a goal. Using detailed data from the top five European football leagues between the 2013/14 and 2017/18 seasons, we exploit the quasi-random occurrence of goals scored just before and just after the halftime break. In the former situation, the game is exogenously interrupted by a break immediately after the goal, whereas in the latter situation, the game continues without interruption. We show that in the case of a goal being scored just before halftime, the scoring team benefits more from the halftime break than the conceding team.

Keywords: football, football myth, halftime, scoring, quasi-experiment

Suggested Citation

Meier, Philippe and Flepp, Raphael and Rüdisser, Maximilian and Franck, Egon P., The Advantage of Scoring Just Before the Halftime Break – Pure Myth? Quasi-Experimental Evidence From European Football (July 31, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3438103 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3438103

Philippe Meier (Contact Author)

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration ( email )

Rämistrasse 71
Zurich, CH-8006
Switzerland

Raphael Flepp

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW) ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zurich, 8032
Switzerland

Maximilian Rüdisser

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW) ( email )

Affolternstrasse 56
Zurich, Zurich 8050
Switzerland

Egon P. Franck

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW) ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zurich 8032
Switzerland
+41 1 634 28 45 (Phone)

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