In Simon Rolfes, the Bundesliga and its partner AWS have an expert who knows the Bundesliga from A to Z. Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Sporting Director, Rolfes wore Die Werkself's colours 288 times between 2005 and 2015, and represented Germany on 26 occasions. Rolfes is the ideal man to write a weekly column for the 'Bundesliga Match Facts Zone' on bundesliga.com, analysing current trends and giving unique insight on the Bundesliga Match Facts.

Here, Simon Rolfes introduces the new Bundesliga Match Fact 'Attacking Zones'.

By Simon Rolfes

Data is gaining an increasingly important role in football. That has long since been the case for the clubs, but I am noticing more and more how fans are indulging in innovative real-time statistics to fuel their own discussions about football, even on a private level. This is why I am particularly pleased that the DFL and AWS continue to develop new Match Facts together. One of these is the 'Attacking Zones', which will now become a key feature of Bundesliga reporting.

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With the aid of Attacking Zones, we can gain detailed insight into the tactical approaches of the clubs. Fundamentally, these real-time statistics will show which side the teams are favouring for their attacks. Entry into the final third of the field is the source of this information, so basically the area of the field where things start to get dangerous. The final third will therefore be divided up into four vertical zones of an equal size, forming the four relevant Attacking Zones: left, inside left, inside right and right.

An algorithm will now count every time a team enters into the final third of the field and give the value 1 to the respective zone of entry – and this will only apply to the first entry of any given attack into the final third. Whatever happens in the subsequent stages of the attack within the final third has no impact. For example, if a team enters the final third down the left wing and, moments later, they score a goal which came from the right wing, this attack will only be counted towards the total for the left Attacking Zone.

The Attacking Zones graphics will show which attacking avenues the Bundesliga clubs are using most often. - DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH

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It will also make a difference whether the ball is dribbled into the final third by a player with the ball at his feet, or whether it is passed in. When it is dribbled in, the zone into which the attacking player enters the final third is the one which will be counted. If the ball is passed in, the area of the field in which the player receives the ball, or where it is first touched by an attacking player, will be counted.

Broadcasters will be able to show how the Attacking Zones are being exploited with percentages that can be seen live on TV during the matches. Commentators will therefore be given a new way to explain the on-field action to the viewers. Furthermore, fans will be able to see their team's preferred Attacking Zone in real-time via the Bundesliga App.

But what will we be able to learn from this data? I expect the Attacking Zones to give us quite a considerable indication of how each coach has set his team up for each match. Does the coach prefer to attack down the wings, or through the centre? Is there one key player in a position through whom most attacks are funnelled? Are a team trying to exploit a perceived weakness in their opponents by directing their attacks into this area? Where are teams launching their attacks against teams who are sitting high or deep?

Attacking Zones could help us draw conclusions about a team's strengths and weaknesses. I'm really looking forward to seeing which stories this new Bundesliga Match Fact will help narrate in the coming matchdays.

>>>Bundesliga Match Facts: overview

Robert Lewandowski scores a lot of goals - even more than he would be expected to score in view of the chances he has had. - TimGroothuis/WITTERS via Christopher Neundorf/Kirchner-Media