Ball possession

Ball possession shows what share of playing time the ball was under the control of each team. For example, 60% for one team corresponds to 40% for the other. High possession does not necessarily mean more dangerous chances or a lead on the scoreboard.

Possession and pressure are not the same thing

A team can control the ball for a long time in its own half and create almost no chances. Therefore even 60–70% possession does not yet mean that it is more dangerous than the opponent. It is important to take into account where and for what purpose the team possesses the ball.

What to compare possession with

High possession together with shots and dangerous attacks may indicate pressure.
High possession with a low number of shots may mean ball control without creating danger.
Low possession is not always a disadvantage: a team can play effectively on counter-attacks.

In algorithms possession is best used together with shots, dangerous attacks, intensity and other metrics.

Related terms

Intensity Intensity is a metric of the team’s attacking activity in points. In BetLab a shot on target gives 10 points, a shot off target — 5, and a corner and a dangerous attack — 1 point each. The higher the value, the more attacking actions the team performed in the selected period.
xG xG, or expected goals, is an assessment of the quality of created scoring chances. Each shot is assigned a probability of becoming a goal based on position, distance to goal and other factors. The sum of these probabilities forms the team’s xG value.
Attacks Attacks show how many times a team moved into attacking actions in the opponent’s half. It is a general activity indicator: many recorded attacks end without a shot or a dangerous chance.

All glossary terms