xG (expected goals)

Expected goals (xG) is a statistical measure used in soccer to estimate the likelihood of a shot resulting in a goal. It analyzes factors like shot distance, angle, and situation to assign a number between 0 and 1, representing the probability of scoring from that chance. For example, a shot with an xG of 0.2 means there's a 20% chance it will result in a goal. xG helps evaluate team and player performance by providing insight into the quality of scoring opportunities created, beyond just the final goal tally.