Review June 20, 2026

The final bullfight of June at Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring had one clear protagonist: Cristian Pérez. Returning to the capital’s famous arena just a few months after suffering a serious injury on Palm Sunday, the young matador delivered one of those performances that resonate deeply with bullfighting fans regardless of the final statistics.

Even before the bullfight began, the crowd recognised his determination and bravery by inviting him to acknowledge their applause after the opening parade. From that moment on, the Madrid-born matador became the central figure of an afternoon shaped by the demanding bulls from Valdefresno and Couto de Fornilhos.

With his first bull, Pérez immediately demonstrated his determination. After dedicating the faena to the medical team who treated him following his serious injury earlier in the season, he built a performance based on confidence, composure and commitment. He took advantage of the bull’s better charges on the right-hand side, although the animal gradually lost strength as the faena progressed. Despite this, Pérez managed to create several quality passages before finishing with a decisive sword thrust. The strong public demand was rewarded with the award of one ear.

The fifth bull provided the most dramatic moment of the afternoon. Pérez came out fully committed and began his faena in the centre of the ring. During one of the early series, he suffered a frightening toss that left the crowd stunned. He was taken to the infirmary showing the effects of the impact, but returned shortly afterwards to continue the fight, receiving a warm ovation from the spectators.

The bull offered very little in terms of quality or willingness to charge, requiring an extraordinary effort from the matador. Pérez took full responsibility for creating the emotion, working close to the barriers and never backing away from the challenge. His determination gradually won over the crowd. A series of tightly executed manoletinas brought the faena to an intense conclusion. A poor sword strike prevented him from securing another trophy, but the lap of honour served as recognition for a performance of remarkable courage and merit.

Alejandro Peñaranda also left a positive impression, particularly with the sixth and final bull, arguably the most complete animal of the afternoon. The young matador produced several well-linked series with the right hand before displaying elegance and rhythm in his natural passes. His faena contained quality and promise, but a lack of precision with the sword denied him a more significant reward, leaving him to acknowledge a warm ovation.

Meanwhile, Juan Pablo Sánchez faced a difficult pair of bulls and had limited opportunities to display his style. The Mexican matador showed isolated moments of quality, but the conditions presented by his opponents prevented him from achieving greater success.

The bullfight as a whole proved uneven. The Valdefresno bulls and the two animals from Couto de Fornilhos were generally demanding and difficult to handle, with rough and challenging charges. The sixth bull stood out as the most suitable for artistic expression.

With only around a quarter of the seats occupied, the Madrid crowd ultimately rewarded the courage, honesty and resilience shown by Cristian Pérez, whose return to Las Ventas became one of the most emotional stories of the afternoon.