Opta Football Statistics

This article outlines how we use Opta to settle statistic markets in football such as Shots on Target (SOT), Goalscorers, Tackles, Offsides, Assists, Passes, Cards and Corners as well as others.

Where are Opta Stats published?

Key live Opta stats are published here. Once you select the game you wish to review, there will then be options presented to for the stats you wish to look at.

Match Day Statistics

We work our hardest to make sure our stats tally with what is happening in the game. However, sometimes it's just not possible to get this right instantly. Therefore, we would only recommend using them as a guide. For more accurate live stats, you can view Opta stats here.

We partner with Opta to provide our stats and as Opta continually strive to make their own statistics as accurate as possible, they can sometimes go back and make amendments. So while it may appear as a shot on target on our site, this could have since changed.

Read on below to view Opta's definitions so that, if you are watching the game or viewing the highlights later you are confident we have settled your bet in line with our stats provider.

Goal/Own Goal

Attributing a Goal to the Goal scoring player, or in the case of an Own Goal, to the defending player.

Given any contention around assigning a Goal to an appropriate player, Opta will apply their own rules, and when applicable will align decisions to the relevant official competition, governing body.

Shot on Target

A deliberate attempt to score that is on target. Includes all Goals being scored and shots on target saved by the Goalkeeper. It also includes shots on target that are Blocked by a last line defending player, preventing the ball from entering the Goal. Also See 'Shot Off Target'.

We understand there are many other incidents where it isn't easy to identify what is a shot on target. Below you can find numerous different types of shot, and whether they are a shot on target or not. Please note this list is just a guide and the final decision is confirmed by Opta, and we settle all of our markets based off their data:

Shot Off Target

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.
A deliberate attempt to score that misses the target, without contact from a player diverting the ball from on target to off target.
A shot hitting the frame of the Goal is classified as a Shot Off Target unless the ball subsequently enters the net. A Blocked Shot is not classified as a Shot Off Target. Also see 'Shot on Target'.

Offside

An event attributed to the player deemed to be in an offside position when a free kick is awarded. If two or more players are in an offside position when the ball is played, the player considered to be most actively involved is given offside.

Blocked Shot

A Blocked Shot is defined as an attempt to score including:

An attempt on target Blocked by an outfield player, where other defenders or a Goalkeeper are behind the Blocker. Incorporates shots Blocked unintentionally by the shooter's own teammate.

Clearances off the line by an opposition player (last line Blocks) are classified as Shots on Target and not as a Blocked Shot.

Tackle

A tackle is defined when a player connects with the ball in a legal, ground level challenge and successfully takes the ball away from the opposition player. The tackled player must be in controlled possession of the ball to be tackled by an opposition player.

A Tackle Won is deemed to be when the tackler or one of their teammates regains possession because of the challenge, or that the ball goes out of play and is safe.
A Tackle Lost is when a tackle is made but the ball goes to an opposition player.

Both are categorised as tackles, but the outcome of the tackle (won or lost) is different based on where the ball goes after the tackle.

Goal Assist

For settlement purposes, a player will be deemed to have assisted a goal if OPTA adjudicates that they have done so.

The final touch from a teammate, which leads to the recipient of the ball scoring a Goal.

If the assist is deflected by an opposition player, it must be deemed as travelling to the Goal-scorer irrespective of the deflection.

In the event of an own Goal, direct free kick Goal and direct corner Goal, an assist will not be awarded. This same rule applies to penalties unless the penalty taker chooses to pass the ball for another player to score. Also see 'Fantasy Assist'.

Fantasy Assist

Attributing a collection of assist events outside the conventional categorisation of Goal Assist. Classifies the final touch from a player on the scoring team as a Fantasy Assist, includes:

A heavily deflected pass or cross.
Shot on Target saved, rebound scored.
Blocked Shot, rebound scored.
Shot hit woodwork, rebound scored.
Shot off Target, remains in play, rebound scored.
Penalty won.
Free kick won by foul.
Free kick or penalty won from a handball.
Event preceding an own Goal (usually shot/pass/cross).

Body Part for Goals/Shots

Attributing a Goal or shot event to the following four body parts:

Right Foot
Left Foot
Head
Other

'Foot' includes any connection with the leg.

Location for Goals/Shots

The position of the ball when the shot is taken (shot origin).

Any event originating on a line, will be collected as inside that area. For example, a shot on the 18-yard line will count as being inside the box.

Direct Free Kick for Goals/Shots

Direct free kick shots are any attempts on Goal created directly from the free kick itself.

Pass

The attempted delivery of the ball from one player to another player on the same team. A player can use any part of their body (permitted in the laws of the game), to execute a pass.

Event categorisation includes open play passes, Goal kicks, corners and free kicks played as a pass. Crosses, keeper throws, and throw ins do not count as a pass.

Opta adds a whole range of qualifiers to each pass event, so that various things can be measured.

Chipped pass - a lofted ball where there is a clear intended recipient, must be over shoulder height and using the passes height to avoid opposition players.

Headed pass - a header where there is a clear intended recipient.

Launch - a long high ball into space or into an area for players to chase or challenge for the ball.

Flick-on - a glancing pass with head or foot onto a team mate where the ball is helped on in the same general direction.

Pull back - a pass inside the penalty area which is pulled back from the goal-line to the centre of the penalty area.

Lay-off - a first time pass away from goal when there is pressure on the passer (Typically played by a forward) with one touch when they have their back to goal.

Through Ball - a pass splitting the defence for a team-mate to run on to.

Tap pass - a short pass after a dead ball situation which cannot have a lost outcome.

Each pass is logged with X and Y co-ordinates for its point of origin and destination.

All Player Passes bets are settled on the basis of 90 minutes’ play (plus injury time) unless otherwise stated. For any Player Passes bets, all bets placed on players that do not take part in the match will be void. Players will be deemed a participant should they enter the game at any point in 90 minutes play plus injury time. Please see our Rules and Regulations for further information here.

Cross

Any intentional played ball from a wide position intending to reach a team mate in a specific area in front of the goal.

Player Interceptions

You are betting on the number of interceptions made by a player. OPTA count an interception where a player reads an opponent's pass and intercepts the ball by moving into the line of the intended pass.

Penalty (won, conceded and taken)

Attributing a series of sequential penalty events to both appropriate team and player. Collection comprising; Penalty Won, Penalty Conceded and Penalty Taken.

Penalty (saved, missed and scored)

A penalty scored is collected as any penalty that is scored. A penalty missed is a penalty shot that goes wide of the goal or over the crossbar without an intervention from the goal keeper. A penalty that hits the woodwork without intervention from the keeper is also collected as a penalty missed. A penalty saved is collected when a penalty is saved by the goalkeeper.

Penalty Betting - Which Way?

You are betting on the area of the goal in which the penalty will be scored, according to Opta.

Opta divide the goal into six equal sections: Top Left, Bottom Left, Top Middle, Bottom Middle, Top Right and Bottom Right. A bet on 'Middle' includes both the Top Middle and Bottom Middle sections.
The coordinates at which the ball enters the goal are adjudicated on by Opta. Sky Bet will always reference Opta for settlement.
Save and Miss (inc. Woodwork) can also be backed in this market. If the penalty is saved or missed, any bet on the correct zone will be a loser.

Foul Conceded

A Foul Conceded is defined as any infringement penalised as foul play by a referee that results in a free-kick or penalty event.

Offsides are not given as a foul conceded.

Incidents where a match official has played advantage and subsequently cautioned a player, do not contribute towards the total foul count for the player or team. In these scenarios a free-kick or penalty event must occur for a foul to be awarded.

Foul Won

A Foul Won is defined when a player wins a free kick or penalty for their team after being fouled by an opposing player.

There are no fouls won for a handball, dive, back pass, illegal restart, dissent, GK 6-second violation or obstruction where a free kick is conceded.

Handball - A deliberate hand ball by an opposition player.
Dive - A deliberate attempt for an opposition player to deceive the referee and win a free kick.
Back pass - A pass picked up by a Goalkeeper when played from a teammate.
Illegal restart - An opposition player has consecutive touches directly after a dead ball situation.

Foul Involvement

A foul involvement is either a foul won or a foul committed.
Player foul involvements are therefore the total sum of Fouls Won and Fouls Committed by the same player.

For example, 1 foul won and 3 fouls committed by a player amounts to 4 foul involvements.

Corner (won, lost and taken)

When the ball has left the field of play for a corner.

A Corner Won is collected for the team awarded the corner, and Corner Lost to the team conceding the corner. A Corner Taken is recorded when the attacking team have (or attempted to), return the ball back into play from a corner event.

Due to the difference in collection criteria between Corner Won/Lost and Corner Taken, it is possible their respective aggregate totals could differ.

Goal Kick

This is awarded to the team/player taking a goal kick.

Throw-In

This is awarded to the team/player taking a throw-in.

Cards

Cards are collected as yellow, 2nd yellow or red card. We cross-check cards against official sources to match the official statistics and will align our collection unless there is recognition of a clear error.

Saves

A Goalkeeper preventing the ball from entering the Goal with any part of their body when facing an intentional attempt from an opposition player.

Saves have the following attributes:

Body part - Hands/Feet/Body/Fist.
Save type - Caught/Collected/Parried Safe/Parried/Fumble.
Goalkeeper position - Diving/Standing/Sliding/Reaching/Stooping Danger area/Fingertip.

This includes:

Unintentional or misplaced efforts on target from a Goalkeeper's own teammates, but only if the intervention is not perceived to be a routine collection of the ball.
If after a Goalkeeper's intervention, a more prominent defensive action from a teammate prevents the ball from entering the Goal, this will be categorised as a Block for the teammate, not a Save for the Goalkeeper.
If the ball goes behind the Goal because of a Goalkeeper intervention, the match officials must award a corner for it to be recognised as a Save.

Hit Woodwork

When the ball hits any part of the Goal frame but does not enter the net as a direct consequence. Any single attempt hitting the Goal frame multiple times (bar then post for example), will only count as hitting the woodwork once. 'Hit Woodwork' is only collected for the attacking team and can be attributed to any player on the pitch.

Player Blocks

Opta Definition: When an outfield player Blocks an attempt on Goal from an opposition player. If the attempt is going wide of the Goal, then no Block is awarded.

Market Rule: Opta defines a Block as a defensive action where an outfield player Blocks an attempt on Goal from an opposition player. If the attempt is going wide of the Goal, then no Block is awarded. Where a player deflects a shot, but a Shot on Target is still awarded, no Block is awarded. A last-line block from a defender (e.g. a goal-line clearance) will be awarded as both a Shot on Target and Block. Blocked passes or crosses do not count. Sky Bet will always reference Opta for resulting.

Aerial Duels Won

Opta Definition: Where two players challenge in the air against each other. The player that wins the ball is deemed to have won the duel.

Market Rule: Opta defines an Aerial Duel as where two or more players challenge in the air against each other. The player that wins the ball is deemed to have won the duel. Two or more players must challenge for the ball in order for an Aerial Duel Won to be awarded, so a headed action which is not challenged will not count. Where a player is fouled during an aerial challenge, that player is deemed to have won the duel. Sky Bet will always reference Opta for resulting.

Bet Settlements

For information on bet settlements, please see our article here or alternatively, you can view the video below which may answer some questions you have.