Madrid review – 2 October 2026
2 de October de 2026
*Images: Alfredo Arévalo Plaza 1
Diego Urdiales produced the highlights of the second bullfight of the Autumn Fair in Madrid, earning two ovations against a challenging Alcurrucén string.
Rain ultimately shaped the second fixture of the Autumn Fair at Las Ventas, but it could not overshadow the finest moments of an afternoon in which Diego Urdiales once again left his mark on Madrid.
The Riojan matador produced the greatest moments of expression against an Alcurrucén string that was serious and well presented, although uneven in its behaviour and, generally speaking, lacking the depth and strength required for the performances to reach greater heights.
Urdiales handled both his bulls beautifully with the cape, once again displaying one of the defining qualities of his bullfighting: purity. His quites, particularly the sweeping half-verónicas with which he concluded them, drew a strong response from the Las Ventas crowd.
Urdiales‘ first bull showed mobility but lacked the stamina needed to sustain a lengthy performance. The matador made the most of its better moments and, following some quality work with the right hand, found greater depth when switching to the left.
Urdiales remained upright and composed, displaying a highly personal style of bullfighting. A measured and connected series down the left-hand side provided one of the highlights of the performance.
The rain then began to take centre stage, eventually becoming the defining feature of the afternoon. The heavy downpour even forced the bullfight to be temporarily suspended after the first bull had been dispatched.
Once the action resumed, Urdiales went after the kill and, following an initial attempt, succeeded in placing the sword. The crowd acknowledged his performance with an ovation.
The fourth gave the Riojan another opportunity to demonstrate his approach. It was a bull with a good initial charge, although it lacked the ease required to continue moving forward throughout the series.
Urdiales had to work to shape its charge and succeeded through patience, positioning and by keeping the muleta very close to the bull’s horns. The performance gained in quality as he managed to link the passes together and guide the animal with softness.
Once again, the matador produced passages of considerable elegance, particularly in his ability to slow the bull’s charge and build a performance without unnecessary embellishment.
The sword once again became decisive. Following a failed first attempt, a poorly placed sword thrust and the use of the descabello, an advisory bell was sounded. Madrid once again recognised his performance with an ovation.
Fortes faced a pair that did not allow him to develop his style with any real continuity.
With the first of his bulls, the Málaga-born matador showed plenty of willingness, although the performance never acquired the necessary intensity. The final act proved difficult and, after two failed attempts with the sword and a misplaced thrust, an advisory bell was sounded before the crowd responded with silence.
The fifth had more mobility than rhythm. Fortes looked for solutions and tried to give continuity to his work, but the bull’s characteristics did not favour him. Following a low, poorly placed sword thrust and several attempts with the descabello, he again received silence.
Christian Parejo was one of the matadors to show the greatest determination throughout the afternoon.
The third offered more possibilities than several of the other bulls in the corrida and the young matador attempted to make the most of them. The performance, however, never reached the level he was seeking.
At one point, midway through the performance, the bull caught him by surprise and launched him into an alarming-looking cogida, fortunately without serious consequences.
Parejo returned to face the bull and, when it came to the final act, committed himself fully. The bull caught him again during the kill, but the matador quickly recovered and completed his performance. The crowd rewarded his bravery with an ovation.
The sixth offered virtually no opportunities. It came to a standstill and Parejo was forced to shorten his performance as the bull had little left to give. The sword did not assist him either and he eventually received silence after an advisory bell.
The second bullfight of the Autumn Fair was defined by the difficulties presented by the Alcurrucén string and by particularly adverse weather conditions.
Against this backdrop, Diego Urdiales was the man who managed to produce the afternoon’s performances of greatest artistic substance. Both of his appearances were characterised by naturalness, composure and a style of bullfighting rooted in purity.
The two ovations he received at Las Ventas were recognition of precisely that approach: free of unnecessary embellishment and always searching for depth.
The rain provided the contrasting backdrop to an afternoon in which the Riojan matador once again earned Madrid’s appreciation for his highly personal interpretation of bullfighting.
Madrid. Friday, 2 October 2026. Second bullfight of the Autumn Fair. Almost full.
Alcurrucén bulls, serious, well made and correctly presented. Four of the bulls were five-year-olds: the first, second, fourth and fifth. Overall, they were noble but lacked greater bravery, drive and stamina. The second and third displayed more notable qualities, while the fourth had good conditions. The first lacked stamina, the fifth showed mobility without much rhythm and the sixth eventually came to a complete standstill.
Dressed in purple and gold: ovation; ovation after an advisory bell.
Dressed in pale blue and jet black: silence after an advisory bell; silence.
Dressed in turquoise blue and gold: ovation; silence after an advisory bell.
Heavy rain forced the bullfight to be temporarily suspended after the first bull had been fought.
Images: Alfredo Arévalo Plaza 1
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