# Home Advantage in Football: Exploring Its Effect on Individual Performance
[PERSON] previously concluded that teams from larger cities experience less HA due to shorter travel distances and the similarity of local field conditions (e.g., weather, altitude, and the presence of away supporters) [10]. Other factors influencing the magnitude of HA include kit colour, as teams wearing red tend to be more successful in competition, although no significant advantage is observed when playing at home [8]. Additionally, team skill and quality play a role, with higher-ranked UEFA teams, better standings, and more points associated with a greater HA effect [12]. While HA has been extensively studied at the collective level, there is a lack of research analysing HA at the individual level, as well as a limited understanding of how external factors influence individual player performance [26]. From a psychological perspective, anxiety and lack of confidence, primarily experienced when playing away, have been shown to negatively affect performance. Conversely, positive emotions fuelled by the home crowd have been found to enhance performance [27]. From an individual perspective, player experience can offer an advantage in managing the pressure and HA effect caused by crowd support [28]. In men's football, studies have shown that players secrete higher testosterone levels when playing at home, which may be linked to physiological responses that enhance performance, such as increased intensity and greater motivation [29]. Additionally, heightened psychological activity has been observed when playing at home, including changes in emotions, mood, and pressure levels [30]. However, individual responses to the pressure of playing in front of a home crowd can vary significantly. For some players, it leads to increased motivation and improved performance, while for others, it created excessive pressure, resulting in a decline in performance (known as the home disadvantage) [13]. This variability highlights the importance of understanding individual differences in how footballers handle pressure and fan support during matches [27]. Related to the abovementioned, in a longitudinal study spanning seven seasons in the English Premier League, [PERSON] et al. observed that some physical demands varied across players' positions [31]. Moreover, they analysed passing performance across different positions, concluding that central players improved their pass completion rate over time. There are several reasons to study and analyse the influence of HA from an individual perspective, highlighting the need for further research in this area. Understanding this phenomenon enables professionals to identify biases based on data, as players tend to perform better when competing in their own stadium. This disparity in performance between home and away matches can significantly impact the tactical decisions made by coaches, players, and analysts [32]. Additionally, studying HA in football contributes to a deeper understanding of the psychological mechanisms that influence sports performance. Players often experience increased confidence, motivation, and concentration during home matches, largely due to crowd support and familiarity with the stadium environment [11]. Furthermore, analysing footballers' behaviour when competing at home or away allows for the development of strategies to minimize or maximize the impact of HA. This enables the implementation of technical-tactical concepts to counteract the HA, while home teams can make adjustments to further enhance their performance [32]. As a result, studying HA not only improves our understanding of individual performance in football but also has practical applications in strategic and tactical decision-making [32]. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the influence of HA on individual footballers' performance in the five major European leagues (La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Premier League, and Ligue 1) based on offensive and defensive performance statistics.