# The Limited Impact of Running Performance on Football Success in the Turkish Super League
## 1 Introduction
Team strength has the same effect [28; 29], while the results are opposite when the opponent's strength increases [29; 30]. The role of location in running performance is also a significant area of study. [PERSON] et al. [21] demonstrated that the home advantage notably increased the odds of winning, potentially due to players optimizing their physical output in familiar settings. [PERSON] et al. [23] found that away matches involved greater total distances covered, suggesting adaptations in team strategy based on match location. In addition,Barrera et al. [31] noted that home matches saw players covering greater distances, likely due to the supportive environment boosting player performance. Given the diverse findings in the literature, with some studies affirming while others denying the substantial impact of running variables on soccer success, a notable research gap remains regarding less-studied leagues, such as the Turkish Super League. These leagues exhibit unique tactical and physical characteristics that could provide insights distinct from those observed in higher-profile competitions. The specific claim has been confirmed by previous research data [1; 32], while at the same time, it is commonly accepted that a country's culture is one of the factors that determine the game model of teams [5]. This rationale underpins the importance of integrating such findings into league-specific training and performance analysis frameworks. In the Turkish Super League, factors influencing teams' running performance [33] and the relationship between running performance and playing styles [34] have been studied, but the impact of running performance on teams' success has not been investigated. Addressing this gap, the present study explores the Turkish context, offering a nuanced understanding of how running performance and situational factors shape match outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to examine whether differences in running performance metrics, categorized by intensity zones, exist between winning and non-winning teams in the Turkish Super League. Specifically, this study addresses the following research questions: (i) How do the distances covered in different intensity zones (low, medium, high-speed, sprint) differ between winning and non-winning teams? (ii) What is the role of the home advantage in the influence of physical performance metrics on match outcomes? (iii) How do team strength and opponent strength impact physical performance and winning probabilities? We hypothesized that (1) winning teams will exhibit superior running performance across all intensity zones, and (2) home advantage and team strength will significantly influence these metrics. The hypotheses of this study are grounded in previous research exploring the relationship between physical performance and success in soccer. Studies such as those by [PERSON] et al. [17] and [PERSON] et al. [18] have demonstrated that superior performance in high-intensity zones is associated with higher winning probabilities. Additionally, the impact of home advantage and team quality on success has been well documented by [PERSON] et al. [27] and [PERSON] et al. [29]. This body of evidence supports the assumptions underpinning this research.