The average number of shots a team attempts or concedes in a match, used as a broad indicator of attacking and defensive volume.
Shots per game (SPG) captures the volume of a team's attacking output. Premier League teams average between 10 and 16 shots per game in a typical season, with the highest-pressing teams at the upper end. SPG is a useful first filter — teams taking more shots tend to generate more goals — but it is an incomplete measure of quality.
Shot volume without shot quality context is misleading. A team taking 18 shots per game from wide angles and long range may generate less xG than a team taking 11 shots from high-quality central positions. This is why xG has largely superseded raw shot counts in serious analytical work.
Shots per game is useful for identifying totals market value. Teams with high shots per game (particularly shots on target per game) tend to see more goals-heavy matches. The over/under total goals market reacts to expected goal volume, so comparing shots per game across both teams to the posted total is a simple screening method.
xG (Expected Goals)
A metric that scores every shot by its probability of resulting in a goal, based on factors like shot location, angle, and assist type.
Shots on Target
Attempts that require a save or result in a goal, excluding blocked shots and shots that miss the frame.
Big Chance
A shot situation where the attacking player is in a strong position and would normally be expected to score — typically defined as xG ≥ 0.35.
Over/Under Goals
A market betting on the total number of goals in a match being above or below a set line — most commonly Over/Under 2.5 goals.
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