Within-game performance decrements in relation to peak fat 
oxidation, Fatmax and peak oxygen uptake in elite male 
footballers

Morten Randers; Tue Rømer; Mikkel Hansen; Christina Ruppert; Viktor Slott; Thomas Nielsen; Loftur Jóhannsson; Jesper Sangild; Jørn Helge; Peter Krustrup; Malte Larsen

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2026.158678

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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abstract:

Original paper

Within-game performance decrements in relation to peak fat oxidation, Fatmax and peak oxygen uptake in elite male footballers

Morten Bredsgaard Randers

¹

,

Tue Rømer

²

,

Mikkel Thunestvedt Hansen

²

,

Christina Rohde Ruppert

¹

,

Viktor Slott

^{1, 3}

,

Thomas Nielsen

^{1, 3}

,

Loftur Gísli Jóhannsson

¹

,

Jesper Sangild

³

,

Jørn Wulff Helge

²

,

Peter Krustrup

^{1, 3, 4, 5}

,

Malte Nejst Larsen

¹

Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Sport and Health Sciences Cluster (SHSC), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Odense Boldklub, Odense, Denmark
Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom

Biol Sport. 2026;43:941-948

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.158678

Online publish date: 2026/03/04

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This study investigated whether fat oxidation capacity is associated with sustained physical performance during the final 30 minutes of elite football match play. Twenty-four professional male football players (age: 24.9 ± 4.0 years; V ̇ O_2peak: 59.1 ± 5.7 ml/min/kg) from the Danish Superliga completed laboratory testing to determine peak fat oxidation (PFO), Fatmax, and V ̇ O_2peak. From match tracking data, distances covered within speed zones, number of runs, and peak speed were analysed for full-match and changes between the first 60 and final 30 minutes. Correlations between laboratory and match variables were assessed. PFO was (mean ± SD) 0.48 ± 0.16 g/min (range: 0.24–0.78), Fatmax was 43 ± 10 %V ̇ O_2peak (31–61), and V ̇ O_2peak was 59.1 ± 5.7 ml/min/kg (49.7–71.3). Players covered 11,216 ± 789 m during a full match, including 899 ± 323 m > 20 km/h and performed 79 ± 29 high-intensity runs. PFO normalized to fat-free mass (PFO/FFM) was significantly correlated with attenuated declines in number of decelerations (r=0.42, P=0.042) in the final 30 minutes, whereas no other correlations with sustained physical performance variables were observed. V ̇ O_2peak was associated with total distance (r=0.59, P=0.002), but not with performance decrements. Peak fat oxidation may play a modest but significant role in supporting repeated high-intensity decelerations late in games in male elite footballers. V ̇ O_2peak was correlated to overall running performance but appears less informative for fatigue resistance.

keywords:

Within-game performance decrements in relation to peak fat oxidation, Fatmax and peak oxygen uptake in elite male footballers

Morten Bredsgaard Randers 1 , Tue Rømer 2 , Mikkel Thunestvedt Hansen 2 , Christina Rohde Ruppert 1 , Viktor Slott 1, 3 , Thomas Nielsen 1, 3 , Loftur Gísli Jóhannsson 1 , Jesper Sangild 3 , Jørn Wulff Helge 2 , Peter Krustrup 1, 3, 4, 5 , Malte Nejst Larsen 1

Physical match performance, Treadmill running, Maximal oxygen uptake, Fat oxidation capacity, High-intensity running