## 1 Introduction  
Performance analysis in football has become an indispensable tool for evaluating and improving team and player performance, offering insights into tactical patterns, game outcomes, and player development [1]. Central to this domain is the analysis of critical moments such as goal-scoring attempts, which often define match success [2, 3]. In particular, the study of goal-scoring attempts provides valuable insights into not only the effectiveness of offensive strategies [4, 5] but also the effectiveness of defensive strategies in preventing them. While research at the senior level is extensive, research at the youth level, specifically within the context of the UEFA Youth League, remains relatively limited. The UEFA Youth League presents a unique and critical context for performance analysis, distinct from senior competitions. Adolescent players, competing at the highest youth level, are undergoing significant physical and cognitive development, impacting their tactical understanding and execution. Research comparing international competitions across age groups, such as the FIFA World Cups, demonstrates significant differences in physical demands, technical skills, and tactical fluidity and different tactical approaches between youth and senior levels, highlighting the necessity for age-specific analyses [6]. Giventhat these top youth players are poised to transition to men's professional competitions within a few years, understanding the technical and tactical demands of the UEFA Youth League through studies like the present one can provide invaluable insights for training methodologies. This knowledge can optimize their development, effectively preparing them for the rigors of senior football. Previous research on adult soccer has highlighted that the creation of goal-scoring opportunities in football is influenced by a range of situational factors [7]. Match location, for instance, plays a significant role, with home matches associated with higher offensive penetration and more structured tactical patterns than away games, which often exhibit less complexity and diversity in attacking actions [4; 8]. Furthermore, the relationship between match status and attacking patterns further highlights the tactical adaptability required in elite soccer. Many studies demonstrated that ball possession increases when teams are losing compared to when they are winning or drawing, indicating a shift in tactical priorities based on match status [9; 10]. Teams trailing in a match tend to adopt longer passing sequences and more direct approaches to maximize scoring opportunities, whereas teams in the lead favor shorter, controlled sequences to maintain possession and control the game's tempo [11; 12]. The interplay between the attack duration and goal-scoring opportunities has also been explored. [PERSON] et al. [13] found that an increase in the duration of an offensive sequence or the number of passes decreases the probability of success, aligning with the findings of [PERSON] et al. [14] that shorter sequences are more efficient in creating goal-scoring opportunities. Moreover, initial penetration actions, such as forward passes or diribbles immediately after possession recovery, have been shown to significantly enhance the likelihood of a successful offensive sequence [15; 16]. Indeed, studies by [PERSON] et al. [17] and [PERSON] et al. [4] emphasize that fast attacks and counter-attacks are more successful than elaborate build-ups in exploiting defensive vulnerabilities. Counter-attacks have been consistently identified as the most effective strategy for generating goal-scoring opportunities, with studies reporting their superior efficiency compared to positional or set-play attacks [13; 18; 19]. These rapid transitions often involve penetrative actions immediately after possession recovery, particularly in pre-offensive or offensive zones, enabling teams to exploit defensive disorganization [13; 15].