21 Aug 2026
What is PPDA in football and how to interpret this statistic
PPDA measures how many passes a team allows the opposition before attempting a defensive action. It is an indicator used to assess the intensity of off-the-ball pressing.
What PPDA means
PPDA stands for Passes per Defensive Action, adapted from the English term Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action. The metric divides the number of passes completed by the opposition in a specific area of the pitch by the number of defensive actions made against them. These actions typically include tackles, interceptions, fouls and challenges.
How the calculation works
The basic formula is: opposition passes ÷ defensive actions by the team being analysed. If the opposition completes 120 passes in the area under consideration and the team makes 10 defensive actions, the PPDA is 12. On many platforms, the calculation uses the most attacking 60% of the pitch, as the aim is to measure pressure on the opposition’s build-up and progression rather than defending near one’s own penalty area.
What a low PPDA indicates
The lower the PPDA, the earlier a team tries to disrupt the opposition’s possession. A figure of 7, for example, indicates that the team allows around seven passes before pressing with a defensive action. High-pressing teams typically record low numbers because they close down the ball carrier and block passing lanes in the opposition half.
What a high PPDA indicates
A high PPDA indicates fewer defensive actions for each sequence of opposition passes. This can point to a team that drops back, protects its own penalty area and allows the opposition to circulate the ball away from goal. It can also occur when the opposition has very secure possession or when the team being analysed cannot execute its press effectively.
Why PPDA does not tell the whole story
PPDA does not measure the quality of pressing on its own. A team may have a low figure because it committed many fouls, pressed in an unorganised manner or was forced to react to turnovers. The figure also changes according to the scoreline, the opposition’s style and the platform’s methodology. For a more useful analysis, compare PPDA with possession, final-third recoveries, shots conceded and goals conceded.
How to use PPDA when analysing a match
Compare each team’s figure in the same match and track the trend over several rounds. If a team normally records a PPDA of 9 but posts 16 against an opponent, it probably pressed less or struggled to get to the ball. If the figure drops to 6, check whether the recoveries occurred near the opposition’s penalty area and whether the press created attacks or merely led to fouls.
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Analysis: PK Sport · our methodology
Analysis based on public data and market signals. For analysis only — not betting advice.