A defensive system where each defender is assigned a specific opposition player to track and shadow throughout the match.
In a man-marking system, defenders are assigned individual opponents to follow across the pitch — rather than holding a zonal area. The marker's primary responsibility is to prevent their assigned player from receiving the ball in dangerous areas, regardless of where the ball is on the pitch.
Pure man-marking is rarely used across the entire pitch at modern elite level, but elements of man-marking are common in specific situations: against dangerous set piece runners, when pressing high and tracking runners through the midfield, and in some defensive systems that apply man-marking in the opposition's final third.
Zonal marking assigns each defender a zone of the pitch rather than an individual opponent — the defender's job is to defend the space, picking up whoever enters their zone. Zonal marking is the dominant system in modern football for both open-play defending and set pieces, but is more mechanically complex and requires high positional discipline.
Teams mixing both systems — applying zonal defence in midfield but switching to man-marking on key attacking threats — can be the most tactically challenging to play against. Understanding which approach a team uses at set pieces is relevant for analysing set piece xG data.
Set Piece
A restart of play from a static position — corners, free kicks, throw-ins, and penalties — which account for roughly 25–30% of all goals in top leagues.
Low Block
A deep, compact defensive setup where a team defends close to their own goal, prioritising shape and compactness over winning possession high up the pitch.
High Press
A defensive tactic where a team aggressively pressures opponents high up the pitch, attempting to win the ball back in the opposition's half.
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.
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