Madrid review – 20 September 2026

Damián Castaño makes his mark at Las Ventas in a display of determination

The Las Ventas Bullring in Madrid hosted the second ganadería challenge of the season on Sunday, with the afternoon characterised by bulls of contrasting qualities and the commitment shown by all three matadors.

Among them, Damián Castaño stood out, completing a lap of honour after a strong request for an ear from the crowd and receiving an ovation following his second appearance.

The Salamanca-born matador faced a varied pair of bulls. The second, a replacement bull from Veiga Teixeira, presented difficulties during the opening stages but subsequently revealed possibilities with the red-and-yellow cape and muleta. The fifth, from Partido de Resina, offered better conditions and provided Castaño with the most notable moments of the afternoon.

Castaño’s performance was also characterised by his determination. Against the replacement bull that fought as the second, he immediately sought to establish rhythm and continuity, particularly with his right hand. There were several passages of authority and linked passes, although the bull’s left side ultimately produced the deepest moments of the performance.

With the muleta in his left hand, the Salamanca matador opted for a slower, more profound style of bullfighting. The passes came one at a time, with Castaño positioning himself precisely and taking the bull’s charge through to the end of each movement.

The intensity of the performance gradually increased, eventually leading to a strong request from the crowd for an ear. The president, however, did not award the trophy.

The subsequent lap of honour recognised a performance defined by determination and Castaño’s ability to make the most of the opportunities offered by the bull.

An important fifth bull

The fifth from Partido de Resina was one of the bulls that generated the greatest interest during the afternoon. It charged energetically at the horse and produced an especially intense tercio de varas, taking three charges from the picador.

With the muleta, the bull showed quality in its charge, although it lacked the strength needed to sustain a more continuous performance.

Once again, Damián Castaño demanded the most from his opponent and was forced to construct the performance almost pass by pass.

The left hand once again produced some of the purest moments of the afternoon. The matador extracted several substantial muleta passes in a performance that connected with the Madrid crowd.

However, the sword ultimately affected the final result. Greater accuracy with the estoque, the matador’s sword, could have changed the outcome of a performance that was eventually rewarded with an ovation.

Fermín Rivera confirms his alternative but finds few opportunities

The afternoon also marked Fermín Rivera‘s confirmation of his alternative, the formal ceremony confirming a matador’s status as a fully fledged professional matador.

The Mexican matador faced a noble bull in his first appearance, although it lacked the stamina and transmission needed for the performance to develop fully.

Problems with the sword prolonged the proceedings and Rivera was met with silence after a warning from the president.

His second opponent, a replacement bull from San Martín, offered little more. The animal lacked strength and had limited travelling distance in its charge, leaving Rivera with few possibilities to develop his ideas. He decided to keep the performance brief and once again received silence.

Gómez del Pilar unable to find continuity

Gómez del Pilar also failed to find the conditions needed to round off his afternoon in Madrid.

The third bull showed quality on the left, although its lack of impetus made it difficult to maintain continuity. The matador produced several interesting passages but was unable to build sufficient momentum. He received silence after a warning.

The sixth, from Veiga Teixeira, offered even fewer possibilities. Its limited charge forced Gómez del Pilar to persevere without finding the continuity he was looking for.

Difficulties with the sword and the descabello, a specialised method used to finish a bull after the sword has failed to do so, prolonged the performance. He eventually received silence after two warnings.

A ganadería challenge with contrasting performances

The afternoon brought together bulls from Partido de Resina and Veiga Teixeira, as well as replacement bulls from Paloma Sánchez Rico and San Martín.

The animals were well presented and serious in appearance, although they varied considerably in type and behaviour.

The fifth from Partido de Resina was the standout, offering genuine possibilities with the muleta after an interesting performance in the horse phase.

The third also displayed qualities, particularly on the left, although its lack of impetus limited what could be achieved. The replacement bull that fought as the second was powerful but showed a clear tendency to avoid the confrontation.

A total of 7,582 spectators attended Las Ventas. The afternoon also began with a minute’s silence in memory of Luis Álvarez.

Ultimately, the name of the afternoon was Damián Castaño, who once again demonstrated in Madrid his ability to respond to difficult circumstances and was rewarded with a lap of honour and an ovation.