A composite metric combining tackles, interceptions, and blocked shots per 90 minutes — measuring how actively a player or team defends.
Defensive actions per 90 is a volume metric for defensive activity. A player with high defensive actions is frequently involved in stopping opposition attacks — useful for assessing defensive midfielders, full-backs, and centre-backs. However, high volume does not equal high quality: a bad defender may make more interventions because their positioning creates more problems.
In team analysis, high defensive actions often indicate a team that defends deep and relies on interventions rather than preventing attacks through positioning and pressing. Combine with xGA and PPDA for a fuller defensive picture.
PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action)
A measure of pressing intensity — how many opposition passes are allowed before a defensive action is made in the opponent's half.
xGA (Expected Goals Against)
The expected goals conceded by a team — a measure of defensive quality based on the quality of chances allowed, not just goals shipped.
Clean Sheet
When a team concedes no goals in a match — a key metric for defenders and goalkeepers in fantasy football and defensive analysis.
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