Opta data’s key strength is the ability to provide in-depth, accessible data that is consistent across the globe. Without this certainty, our player and team statistics can be far less valuable and there would be a danger that different leagues would be analysed in conflicting ways, rendering proper player comparison invalid.
To avoid this, Opta have a long-established, consistent list of ‘Event Definitions’ in football that are adhered to across all data collection centres.
Different governing bodies have different rules, and where possible Opta works with the relevant people to reflect their official decisions on goal scorers.
Regarding deflections, normally a goal is awarded if the original attempt is on target. An own goal is usually awarded if the attempt is off target and deflected into the goal by an opponent.
A shot off target is defined as any clear attempt to score that:
• Goes over or wide of the goal without making contact with another player.
• Would have gone over or wide of the goal but for being stopped by a goalkeeper’s save or by an outfield player.
• Directly hits the frame of the goal and a goal is not scored.
Blocked shots are not counted as shots off target.
A calculation of goals scored divided by shots attempted (excluding blocked attempts and own goals).
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 of play, one of which must be assigned to each attempt.
The relevant pattern of play is assigned to a shot before the phase of play has broken down into open play.
The exact point at which it becomes open play is usually clear but set pieces and corners which are cleared and then the ball is put straight back into the penalty area are still deemed to be part of the set play as the defending team is still positioned to deal with the set play. This rule includes the free kicks, corners, throw ins and penalties.
A big chance opportunity when the player does not get a shot away, typically given for big chance attempts where the player shooting completely misses the ball (air shot) but can also be given when the player has a big chance opportunity to shoot and decides not to, resulting in no attempt occurring in that attack.
The following four body parts are collected:
Foot includes any connection with the leg.
The final touch (pass, pass-cum-shot or any other touch) leading to the recipient of the ball scoring a goal. If the final touch (as defined in bold) is deflected by an opposition player, the initiator is only given a goal assist if the receiving player was likely to receive the ball without the deflection having taken place. Own goals, directly taken free kicks, direct corner goals and penalties do not get an assist awarded.
A pass/cross that is instrumental in creating a goal-scoring opportunity, for example a corner or free-kick to a player who then assists an attempt, a chance-creating through ball or cross into a dangerous position.
A shot on target is defined as any goal attempt that:
• Goes into the net regardless of intent – For Goals only.
• Is a clear attempt to score that would have gone into the net but for being saved by the goalkeeper or is stopped by a player who is the last-man with the goalkeeper having no chance of preventing the goal (last line block).
Shots directly hitting the frame of the goal are not counted as shots on target, unless the ball goes in and is awarded as a goal.
Shots blocked by another player, who is not the last-man, are not counted as shots on target.
A blocked shot is defined as any clear attempt to score that:
• Is going on target and is blocked by an outfield player, where there are other defenders or a goalkeeper behind the blocker.
Includes shots blocked unintentionally by the shooter’s own team mate.
Clearances off the line by an opposition player (last line blocks) are counted as shots on target and do not get counted as a blocked shot.
A calculation of Shots on target divided by all shots (excluding blocked attempts 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.
Direct free kick shots are any attempts created directly from the free kick itself (unassisted).
The position of the ball, when the shot is taken (shot origin).
Any event happening on a line, will be considered inside that area. For example, a shot on the 18-yard line will count as being inside the box.
Additional fantasy assist types are collected, but not counted as normal goal assists. The following types of fantasy assists are collected:
The final pass or pass-cum-shot leading to the recipient of the ball having an attempt at goal without scoring.
Any intentional played ball from one player to another. Passes include open play passes, goal kicks, corners and free kicks played as pass – but exclude crosses, keeper throws and throw-ins.
Opta adds a whole range of qualifiers to each pass event, so that various things can be measured
This allows Opta to log the following:
Of course, the event-based nature of the data is such that you can calculate any combination such as chipped passes over 20 yards in the final third that go sideways.
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 which goes to a team mate directly without a touch from an opposition player.
Assists plus Key passes.
Any intentional played ball from a wide position intending to reach a team mate in a specific area in front of the goal.
A sum of all events where a player touches the ball, so excludes things like Aerial lost or Challenge lost.
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 hTackleeavy touch when trying to beat an opposition player.
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.
This is where a player blocks a shot on target from an opposing player.
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 which go backwards towards a player’s own goal.
A tackle is defined as where a player connects with the ball in a ground challenge where he successfully takes the ball away from the player in possession.
The tackled player must clearly be in possession of the ball before the tackle is made.
Both are deemed as successful tackles however, the outcome of the tackle (won or lost) is different based on where the ball goes after the tackle.
It is not a tackle, when a player cuts out a pass by any means.
This is a defensive action where a player kicks the ball away from his own goal with no intended recipient.
When a player tries to cut out an opposition pass by any means. Similar to an interception except there is much less reading of the pass.
This is where a player recovers the ball in a situation where neither team has possession or where the ball has been played directly to him by an opponent, thus securing possession for their team.
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 which directly leads to a second attempt to score.
A foul conceded is defined as any infringement penalised as foul play by a referee that results in a free-kick or penalty event.
A penalty is collected on the foul conceded (team and player). A foul won resulting in a penalty is only collected for players and doesn’t include handballs instigated. The penalty taken is collected as a shot or penalty pass (team and player).
The deepest player in the defensive line when an offside has been given.
When the ball has left the field of play resulting in a corner. A corner won is collected for the team being awarded a corner, and corner lost for the team conceded a corner for the opposition team. A corner taken is added when the player taking the corner has carried out the action, usually a cross or a pass.
When the referee restarts the game after a delay.
Cards are collected as yellow, 2nd yellow or red card. Where possible we cross-check cards against official (referee) reports to match the official statistics – unless these are clearly incorrect.
Sequences are defined as passages of play which belong to one team and are ended by defensive actions, stoppages in play or a shot.
Defensive Coverage measures the area of defensive responsibility implied by a player’s defensive actions during a match. The corresponding output consists of a series of coordinates which define a polygon of the player’s defensive zone, as well as the area (in metres squared) of that zone.
Where a player shields the ball from an opponent and is successful in letting it run out of play. Can be offensive (to win a corner or throw in up field) or defensive (winning a throw in or goal kick).
Hit woodwork is given in situations where the ball hits the frame of the goal, except goals that hit the frame before going into the net. Any shot that hits the frame multiple times (e.g. bar and left post) only count as hitting the woodwork once.
Hit woodwork is always collected for the attacking team (and the player, who performed the last action), even when the ball hits the frame coming from a defensive back pass.
A foul won is defined as where a player wins a free kick or penalty for their team after being fouled by an opposing player.
There is no foul won for a handball, dive, back pass, illegal restart, dissent, GK 6-second violation or obstruction where a free kick is conceded.
Awarded to the player deemed to be in an offside position where a free kick is awarded. If two or more players are in an offside position when the pass is played, the player considered to be most active and trying to play the ball is given offside.
When the ball has left the field of play for a goal kick or throw in (excluding corners).
When the referee stops the game, typically for a player receiving treatment for an injury or the referee requires assistance from the VAR.
The injury time announcement held up by the 4th official at the end of the 1st and 2nd half.
For Opta Discipline tables, we award one point per foul conceded, three points per yellow card and six per red card. For Referees’ tables we also add three points per penalty awarded.
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.
Events that are overturned by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be deleted from collection. E.g., A goal, the shot, and prior collected events will be removed from collection should the VAR review determine that a foul took place prior to the goal being scored.
A duel is an 50-50 contest between two players of opposing sides in the match. For every Duel Won there is a corresponding Duel Lost depending on the outcome of the contest.
The player who has been beaten is given a Challenge lost if they do not win the ball.
A goalkeeper who comes out and claims the ball at the feet of a forward gets a smother, similar to a tackle, however, the keeper must hold onto the ball to award a smother.
This is where two players challenge in the air against each other. The player that wins the ball is deemed to have won the duel. When more than two players are involved the player closest to the duel winner is given an Aerial Duel lost.
A tackle is awarded if a player wins the ball from another player who is in possession. If he is attempting to beat the tackler, the other player will get an unsuccessful Take-on. If he is in possession but not attempting to “beat” his man, then he will get a dispossessed.
The player winning the foul is deemed to have won the duel and the player committing the foul having lost the duel.
A goalkeeper preventing the ball from entering the goal with any part of his body when facing an intentional attempt from an opposition player.
Saves have the following attributes:
We log which way a goalkeeper dives regardless of the outcome of the penalty.
A high ball that is punched clear by the goalkeeper. The keeper must have a clenched fist and attempting to clear the high ball rather than claim it.
When a goalkeeper comes off his goal line to claim a high ball (attempting a catch) and misses the ball.
A keeper sweeper is given anytime a goalkeeper anticipates danger and rushes off their line to try to either cut out an attacking pass (in a race with the opposition player) or to close-down an opposition player.
A keeper sweeper is defined if:
A player or team who does not concede a goal for the full match.
A high ball played into the penalty area that is caught by the goalkeeper.
A high ball where the goalkeeper tries to catch the ball, he gets his hands on the ball but drops it from his grasp.
The percentage of high balls played into penalty area, that a goalkeeper tries to deal with where he is successful – Catches + Punches divided by total high balls he came for.
When the goal keeper picks up the ball and his side regain possession, similar to recovery, however, the goal keeper picks the ball up.
Expected Goals (xG) measures the quality of a shot based on several variables such as assist type, shot angle and distance from goal, whether it was a headed shot and whether it was defined as a big chance. Adding up a player or team’s expected goals can give us an indication of how many goals a player or team should have scored on average, given the shots they have taken.
Expected assists (xA) measures the likelihood that a completed pass will become a goal assist. It considers several factors including the type of pass and 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 of team should have had based on their build up and attacking play.
