Football Stats Explained

Attributing a goal to the goalscoring player, or in the case of an own goal, to the defending player. Given any contention around assigning a goal to an appropriate player, Opta will apply their own rules, and when applicable will align decisions to the relevant official competition or governing body.

A deliberate attempt to score that is on target. Includes all goals being scored and shots on target saved by the goalkeeper. It also includes shots on target that are blocked by a last-line defending player, preventing the ball from entering the goal.

A deliberate attempt to score that misses the target, without contact from a player diverting the ball from on target to off target. A shot hitting the frame of the goal is classified as a shot off target unless the ball subsequently enters the net. A blocked shot is not classified as a shot off target.

A blocked shot is defined as an attempt to score including: An attempt on target that is blocked by an outfield player, where other defenders or a goalkeeper are behind the 'blocker'. A shot blocked unintentionally by the shooter's own teammate. Clearances off the line by an opposition player (last-line blocks) are classified as a shot on target and not as a blocked shot.

A calculation of total goals scored divided by total shots attempted.

A calculation of total shots on target divided by all shots attempted (excluding blocked shots and own goals).

A situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a one-on-one scenario or from very close range when the ball has a clear path to goal and there is low to moderate pressure on the shooter. Penalties are always considered big chances.

Expected goals measures the quality of a chance by calculating the likelihood that it will be scored, using information on similar shots in the past. We use nearly one million shots from Opta's historical database to measure xG on a scale between zero and one, where zero represents a chance that is impossible to score, and one represents a chance that a player would be expected to score every single time.

The position of the ball when the shot is taken (shot origin). Any event originating on a line on the pitch will be collected as inside that area. For example, a shot on the 18-yard line will count as being inside the box.

Set-piece goals/attempts are those where the ball starts from a dead-ball situation such as a corner, a free-kick, a penalty or a throw-in and results in a shot before the phase of play has broken down into open play. There are seven patterns: Regular (open-play attack), Set-piece (indirect free-kick), Throw-in, Direct free-kick, Direct corner (goal scored directly from corner), Fast break (counter-attack after winning ball in own half), Penalty. The relevant pattern is assigned before play breaks down into open play.

The final touch from a teammate that leads to the recipient of the ball scoring a goal. If the assist is deflected by an opposition player, it must be deemed as travelling to the goalscorer irrespective of the deflection. In the event of an own goal, direct free-kick goal and direct corner goal, an assist will not be awarded. This same rule applies to penalties unless the penalty-taker chooses to pass the ball for another player to score. Also see 'fantasy assist.'

Attributing a collection of assist events outside the conventional categorisation of goal assist. Classifies the final touch from a player on the scoring team as a fantasy assist, despite: A heavily deflected pass or cross, Shot on target saved and rebound scored, Blocked shot and rebound scored, Shot hit woodwork and rebound scored, Shot off target, remains in play and rebound scored, Penalty won, Free-kick won by foul, Free-kick or penalty won from a handball, Event preceding an own goal (usually shot/pass/cross).

The attempted delivery of the ball from one player to another player on the same team. A player can use any part of their body (permitted in the laws of the game) to execute a pass. Event categorisation includes open-play passes, goal-kicks, corners and free-kicks played as a pass. Crosses, keeper throws, and throw-ins do not count as a pass. Opta adds a whole range of qualifiers to each pass event so that various things can be measured. Each pass is logged with X and Y coordinates for its points of origin and destination, allowing passes to be broken down by area of the pitch, type, and direction.

This is simply a formula where successful passes are divided by total attempted passes in whichever combination of passes is selected. Usually, pass completion excludes crosses. Crosses are usually treated separately and crossing success is the percentage of successful crosses out of the total attempted. A completed pass is a pass that goes to a teammate directly without a touch from an opposition player.

A ball played from a wide position that targets a teammate(s) in a central area in close proximity to the goal. The delivery must have an element of lateral movement from a wider position to a more central area in front of goal.

Expected assists measures the likelihood that a completed pass will become a goal assist. It considers several factors including the type of pass, end-point and length of pass. Adding up a player or team's expected assists gives us an indication of how many assists a player or team should have based on their build-up and attacking play.

Possessions are defined as one or more sequences in a row belonging to the same team. A possession is ended by the opposition gaining control of the ball.

The number of open-play sequences that start just inside the team's own half and have at least 50% of movement towards the opposition's goal and ends in a shot or a touch in the opposition's box.

A sum of all collected events where a player touches the ball, so this excludes events such as aerial lost or challenge lost.

When the ball bounces off a player and there is no intentional pass, we award a touch. When a player mis-controls the ball with a poor touch, we award an unsuccessful touch. Also used for mishit shots that go backwards towards a player's own goal.

This is an attempt by a player to beat an opponent when they have possession of the ball. A successful dribble means the player beats the defender while retaining possession, unsuccessful ones are where the dribbler is tackled. Opta also collects attempted dribbles where the player overruns the ball with a heavy touch when trying to beat an opposition player. Total take-ons includes all take-on events, while total dribbles is all take-on events without the 'defensive 1-vs-1' qualifier. This qualifier is meant to signal when a player attempts a take-on but doesn't get past a player and basically has to turn back (still with the ball). Any take-on with the 'defensive 1-vs-1' qualifier is unsuccessful so this doesn't affect the number of successful take-ons/dribbles.

Defined as the player moving the ball five metres or more.

Ball carries that move the ball more than five metres upfield.

A tackle is defined when a player connects with the ball in a legal, ground-level challenge and successfully takes the ball away from the opposition player. The tackled player must be in controlled possession of the ball to be tackled by an opposition player. A tackle won is deemed to be when the tackler or one of their teammates regains possession because of the challenge, or when the ball goes out of play and is safe. A tackle lost is when a tackle is made but the ball goes to an opposition player. Both are categorised as tackles, but the outcome of the tackle (won or lost) is different based on where the ball goes after the tackle.

This is where a player attempts to challenge for the ball and does not make it – it is calculated by adding fouls with an attempted tackle qualifier to the number of times a player is beaten by a dribble (challenge lost).

This is where a player reads an opponent's pass and intercepts the ball by moving into the line of the intended pass.

When an outfield player blocks an attempt on goal from an opposition player. If the attempt is going wide of the goal, then no block is awarded.

PPDA is the number of opposition passes allowed outside of the pressing team's own defensive third, divided by the number of defensive actions by the pressing team outside of their own defensive third. In our PPDA calculation, the defensive actions are fouls, tackles, interceptions, challenges, and blocked passes.

A tackle is awarded if a player wins the ball from another player who is in possession. If they are attempting to beat the tackler, the other player will get an unsuccessful take-on. If they are in possession but not attempting to 'beat' their opponent, then they will get a 'dispossessed'.

The player who has been beaten is given a challenge lost if they do not win the ball.

A 'foul won' is defined as when a player wins a free-kick or penalty for their team after being fouled by an opposing player. There are no fouls won for a handball, dive, back pass, illegal restart, dissent, goalkeeper six-second violation or obstruction where a free-kick is conceded. Those events are defined as followed: Handball – A deliberate handball by an opposition player. Dive – A deliberate attempt for an opposition player to deceive the referee and win a free-kick. Back Pass – A pass picked up by a goalkeeper when played by a teammate. Illegal Restart – A player has consecutive touches directly after a dead-ball situation. Dissent – A player shows dissent towards a match official. Goalkeeper six-second violation – A goalkeeper picks up the ball and holds on to it longer than six seconds. Obstruction – A player traps the ball between their legs to stop an opposition player from playing the ball.

A 'foul conceded' is defined as any infringement penalised as foul play by the referee and results in a free-kick or penalty event. Offsides are not given as a foul conceded. Incidents where a match official has played advantage and subsequently cautioned a player do not contribute towards the total foul count for the player or team. In these scenarios a free-kick or penalty event must occur for a foul to be awarded.

Collection of foul events where one player wins a foul and another player concedes it. Collection is subject to the referee awarding a free-kick or penalty and not the taking of either.

Attributing a series of sequential penalty events to the appropriate team and player. Collection comprising; 'penalty won', 'penalty conceded' and 'penalty taken'.

Cards are collected as yellow, second yellow or red card. Where possible, Opta cross-check cards against official (referee) reports to match the official statistics – unless these are clearly incorrect.

When the ball has left the field of play for a corner. A 'corner won' is collected for the team awarded the corner, and 'corner lost' to the team conceding the corner. A 'corner taken' is recorded when the attacking team have (or attempted to), return the ball back into play from a corner event. Due to the difference in collection criteria between corner won/lost and corner taken, it is possible their respective aggregate totals could differ.

An event attributed to the player deemed to be in an offside position when a free-kick is awarded. If two or more players are in an offside position when the ball is played, the player considered to be most actively involved is given offside. An offside provoked will be awarded to the deepest player in the defensive line when an offside has been given.

When the ball hits any part of the goal frame but does not enter the net as a direct consequence. Any single attempt hitting the goal frame multiple times (bar then post, for example), will only count as hitting the woodwork once. 'Hit woodwork' is only collected for the attacking team and can be attributed to any player on the pitch.

When a player makes an error, which leads to a goal or shot conceded. Also used for spills and attempted claims or saves by a goalkeeper that directly lead to a second attempt to score.