How carbohydrate and caffeine taken alone or together between two daily training sessions affect soccer performance

Isolated and combined carbohydrate and caffeine supplementation does not improve soccer-related performance tests after prior training.

• Eleven male amateur soccer players completed four trials in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design.
• Performance tests included a countermovement jump, a soccer passing test, and a repeated-sprint test.
• No significant effects of supplementation on performance metrics such as jump height, passing time, or sprint times were observed.
• Heart rate, plasma lactate concentration, perceived exertion, and perceived activation increased over time, while pleasure-displeasure ratings decreased.
• The findings indicate that carbohydrate and caffeine supplementation alone or in combination does not enhance recovery or performance in this context.

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