Formations Book

PPDA (Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action)

PPDA in Football

PPDA, short for Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action, is a key football analytics metric used to measure a team's pressing intensity. It calculates how many opposition passes a team allows before attempting a defensive action, such as a tackle, interception, or foul, in the attacking half of the pitch. The lower the PPDA value, the more aggressively and frequently a team presses its opponent.

This metric has become a standard way to analyze modern pressing systems, from high-energy gegenpressing teams to more passive defensive blocks. By tracking PPDA, analysts, coaches, and fans can compare how proactive or conservative teams are when out of possession.

How PPDA is Calculated

The formula considers passes made by the opposition and the defending team’s defensive actions in advanced areas:

  • Numerator: Opposition passes completed in the defending team’s final 60% of the pitch.
  • Denominator: Defensive actions attempted (tackles, interceptions, fouls, challenges) in the same area.
  • Formula: PPDA = Passes completed ÷ Defensive actions

For example, if a team allows 80 passes and makes 20 defensive actions, their PPDA is 4. A lower score reflects more intense pressing.

What PPDA Tells Us

PPDA helps visualize how a team approaches defending without the ball.

  • High pressing teams: Low PPDA (around 4–8) indicates frequent defensive actions and pressure on the ball.
  • Mid-block teams: Moderate PPDA (around 9–12) suggests selective pressing while holding shape.
  • Low block teams: High PPDA (13+), reflecting passive defending, allowing more passes before engaging.

Advantages of PPDA

This metric is widely used for its simplicity and insight into pressing styles.

  • Comparability: Easy to compare across leagues, teams, or seasons.
  • Pressing indicator: Quickly shows how proactive a team is off the ball.
  • Tactical insight: Highlights pressing systems and trends in different contexts.
  • Useful for scouting: Identifies teams or players suited to high-intensity pressing.

Limitations of PPDA

While valuable, PPDA is not a complete picture of defensive behavior.

  • Context missing: Does not account for pressing triggers, traps, or tactical intent.
  • Zone focus: Only considers actions in certain pitch areas.
  • Quality of actions: Treats all defensive actions equally, regardless of outcome.
  • Game state effect: Teams leading may press less, raising their PPDA artificially.

PPDA in Modern Football

The metric is often used to analyze elite pressing sides like Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool or Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who typically record low PPDA values due to aggressive counter-pressing. In contrast, deep-block teams such as Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid show higher PPDA values, reflecting their disciplined, space-denying approach.

By blending PPDA with video analysis and other advanced stats like defensive duels, turnovers, and pressing efficiency, analysts can gain a fuller understanding of how pressing impacts performance and results.