Ahead of Botafogo x Coritiba at Nilton Santos on 12/04/26, the call to leave Ferraresi out of the relacionados has a clear message: this is opção técnica, not a physical issue. And as JogoHoje has been tracking the Botafogo build-up all week, this kind of lineup tweak matters because it reshapes the line defensiva from the first whistle.
According to the report circulating in Brazil, Ferraresi has no physical problems and was not included simply because Franclim Carvalho chose a different defensive profile. That’s the sort of decision that sparks debate, sure, but it’s also exactly where the tactical chess match starts.
What happened to Ferraresi
Ferraresi was left out of the match relacionados for the Brasileirão clash. No injury smoke screen, no fitness excuse. The reasoning is straightforward: opção técnica. The bigger twist is the timing, right at the moment Botafogo is adjusting its escalação under a new technical command.
Even more context: Ferraresi is on loan from São Paulo until the end of 2026, and he had been turning in solid performances prior to Franclim Carvalho taking over. So when a coach drops a previously trusted option for a specific tactical plan, it usually means the coach is hunting a certain defensive behavior, not just swapping names.
Not an injury: the tactical decision by Franclim Carvalho
Let’s be blunt. This isn’t one of those “wait and see” situations. The report is clear: Ferraresi is fit, and his absence is a deliberate choice. That puts the spotlight on the hierarquia do elenco and how quickly the new staff is setting standards.
What does that tell us? Carvalho is leaning into a particular dupla de zaga that he believes best protects the team’s structure during the moments that decide games: when the opponent presses, when the ball is lost in midfield, and when Botafogo has to manage the transição defensiva without panic.
What changes in Botafogo’s back line vs Coritiba
With Ferraresi out, the defensive picture shifts. The expectation is that Franclim Carvalho will go with Bastos and Alexander Barboza as starters, which immediately changes the rhythm of the linha defensiva.
- First, the dupla de zaga becomes more about the coach’s desired spacing and control than about individual familiarity.
- Second, the team’s defending will likely lean into how those two handle line height and cover angles when Coritiba tries to stretch the midfield.
- Third, the escalação suggests Botafogo wants a back line that can keep its shape under pressure, rather than one that simply clears danger.
And that’s where the debate gets spicy. If the coaching staff is prioritizing a different defensive chemistry, are we seeing a long-term plan for the Brasileirão, or just a short-term fix for this matchup? Either way, it’s a statement.
Bastos and Barboza gain momentum in the pecking order
When a loan player with recent momentum is left out despite being healthy, the message to the locker room is loud: the hierarquia do elenco is being rewritten on tactical criteria. Bastos and Barboza don’t just “get a chance” here. They get the coach’s endorsement to lead the defensive transition and set the tone for the next phase of the season.
This is also about trust. Coaches don’t drop a stable option lightly unless they believe the new opção técnica gives the team a better chance to win duels, protect space, and avoid the kind of defensive chaos that turns a 0-0 into a chase.
What this choice could indicate for the rest of the Brasileirão
Ferraresi’s omission could be the start of a bigger pattern: Carvalho defining what the back line should look like, how it should move, and who fits that identity. In other words, the coach is building a system, not just a XI.
For Botafogo, that means the next games will be judged by whether this dupla de zaga can handle different game states. Against teams that defend deep, can they control the space behind? Against teams that press, can they keep the linha defensiva coordinated? If the answers are “yes,” Ferraresi becomes a rotational figure. If “no,” expect the staff to recalibrate quickly.
O Veredito Jogo Hoje
This is the kind of opção técnica that separates a squad that survives from a squad that controls. Leaving Ferraresi out while installing Bastos and Alexander Barboza as the core isn’t just a personnel call, it’s a tactical bet on structure, duels, and the transição defensiva. If it clicks, Botafogo’s defense gets a spine. If it doesn’t, that dupla de zaga will pay for it fast. Either way, Carvalho is setting the pecking order by what happens on the pitch, not by reputation.
By JogoHoje’s tactical desk
Perguntas Frequentes
Is Ferraresi injured?
No. The report indicates Ferraresi has no physical problems and was left out for a opção técnica reason.
Why was Ferraresi left out of Botafogo’s squad list?
Because Franclim Carvalho opted for a different defensive setup. The absence is described as a tactical decision, not a fitness issue.
Who is expected to form Botafogo’s defense vs Coritiba?
Bastos and Alexander Barboza are expected to be the starting dupla de zaga, shaping the linha defensiva and the team’s transição defensiva.
