OPPDA (Opponent Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action)
OPPDA, short for Opponent Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action, is an advanced football metric that measures how often a team faces pressing from their opponents. While PPDA evaluates how aggressively a team presses, OPPDA flips the perspective to show how frequently a team is pressed against. A lower OPPDA value means the team is being pressed more intensely by the opposition, while a higher value suggests they are allowed more freedom on the ball.
This stat helps analysts, coaches, and fans understand how opponents approach defending against a specific side. It reflects not only the quality of a team’s possession game but also the respect and tactical responses they attract.
How OPPDA is Calculated
The calculation mirrors PPDA but from the perspective of opposition pressing:
- Numerator: Passes completed by the team in their own final 60% of the pitch.
- Denominator: Defensive actions attempted by the opponent in the same area (tackles, interceptions, fouls, challenges).
- Formula: OPPDA = Passes completed ÷ Opponent defensive actions
For example, if a team completes 100 passes and the opposition attempts 25 defensive actions, their OPPDA is 4. A low figure shows that opponents are pressing tightly and forcing action.
What OPPDA Tells Us
OPPDA provides insight into how opponents approach games against a given team.
- High respect sides: Teams like Manchester City or Barcelona often face lower OPPDA, as rivals press aggressively to disrupt their buildup.
- Passive opposition: Higher OPPDA values suggest opponents are sitting back, allowing possession in deeper areas.
- Tactical adaptation: Variations in OPPDA highlight how different teams adjust their pressing based on the opponent’s strengths.
Advantages of OPPDA
The metric is especially useful for analyzing possession teams and opposition strategies.
- Opponent perspective: Shows how teams are defended against.
- Tactical respect indicator: Highlights how much pressure a side attracts.
- Strategic planning: Useful for preparing against high-pressing or low-block teams.
- Trend analysis: Tracks how approaches against a dominant team change over time.
Limitations of OPPDA
Like PPDA, OPPDA is insightful but not a complete picture on its own.
- Context missing: Doesn’t capture pressing triggers or quality of actions.
- Area dependency: Only includes certain pitch zones.
- Game state effect: Teams leading may press less, raising OPPDA artificially.
- Complementary needed: Works best when combined with video analysis or other metrics.
OPPDA in Modern Football
Top possession teams like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, or Barcelona often face intense pressing, reflected in low OPPDA values. In contrast, teams with a more direct style may face higher OPPDA, as opponents sit deeper and allow their defenders time on the ball. Analysts often compare PPDA and OPPDA side by side to evaluate both pressing intensity and how opponents adapt in response.
Together, PPDA and OPPDA give a fuller picture of pressing dynamics in football — showing both how teams press and how they are pressed against.