xGChain and xGBuildup
A goal starts long before the shot. xGChain and xGBuildup, introduced by Thom Lawrence at StatsBomb in 2018, give credit to everyone in the move.
One move, one shot
xGChain
Every player involved in a possession that ends in a shot gets that shot's xG. Shooters, passers and players further back all count.
xGBuildup
The same, but without the shooter and the player who made the last pass: it isolates the deeper work.
What it shows
- Deep midfielders and defenders who start dangerous moves, invisible in goals and assists.
- Players who keep turning up in good attacks, even if they rarely shoot.
Limits
Everyone gets the same credit, whether he played a brilliant pass or a simple one. Models that value each action, such as expected threat and OBV and VAEP, split the credit more finely.
Questions
What is the difference between xGChain and xGBuildup?
xGChain credits everyone in a move that ends in a shot; xGBuildup leaves out the shooter and the last passer.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-28. Methods change: every figure here is dated to its source.
xG explains football; it is not a betting tip. 18+ · Please gamble responsibly.