Madrid review – 4 October 2026

Borja Jiménez provides the highlight of the fourth Autumn Fair bullfight

The fourth bullfight of the Autumn Fair had a clear protagonist: Borja Jiménez. The Sevillian matador cut an ear at Las Ventas after a challenging afternoon shaped by the wind and the difficulties presented by the Victorino Martín bulls.

The arena was packed, with a ‘No hay billetes’ sign displayed for one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the fair. The Victorino string showed varying degrees of quality and gave the matadors few opportunities, although some bulls did allow moments of genuine interest, particularly the third.

Borja Jiménez earns an ear from the third

Borja Jiménez found his best opportunity with the third bull. He began his work on his knees, encouraging the bull to charge forward with plenty of momentum, and quickly established an understanding with the animal.

The wind proved to be an additional obstacle throughout the performance. Nevertheless, Jiménez managed to impose himself at several points, producing long, well-planted passes and controlling the bull’s charge with considerable precision.

The performance gradually lost continuity and eventually became a matter of taking each pass individually. However, a well-executed sword thrust gave greater weight to his work.

The crowd strongly called for a trophy, and the president eventually awarded one ear.

With the sixth, Borja Jiménez faced a much more calculating and difficult bull, which considerably reduced his chances. He was unable to repeat the success of his first appearance and received applause.

Ureña shows his best with the second

Paco Ureña produced some of the afternoon’s most artistic moments with the second bull.

The bull initially showed a lack of strength, but gradually improved and eventually charged with rhythm and quality. Ureña took advantage of this change to build a performance around long, extended passes, particularly when he was able to draw the bull through to the end of each pass.

The Lorca-born matador found his strongest moments on the left hand, where he achieved greater depth and composure.

However, his failure with the sword prevented the performance from receiving a greater reward. Ureña had to settle for an ovation.

The fifth was a different proposition. Faced with a more difficult bull offering few genuine opportunities for artistic display, the matador decided to keep the performance brief.

Uceda Leal leaves flashes against a demanding fourth

Uceda Leal had to carefully assess his options with the fourth bull. The animal allowed him to display some of his trademark classical touches, but did not provide the continuity needed to develop a more substantial performance.

His first bull, meanwhile, repeatedly fell short in its charge from the outset. Uceda showed determination, but the bull’s characteristics made it difficult to link the passes together or establish a strong connection with the crowd.

A demanding Victorino Martín bullfight

The Victorino Martín string was characterised by inconsistency. Several bulls severely limited the matadors’ options, while the second and, above all, the third provided enough quality for the most notable moments of the afternoon to emerge.

In a packed Las Ventas and against one of the most demanding and respected names in Spanish bullfighting, Borja Jiménez was the only matador able to turn his performance into a trophy.

There was also an incident involving Paco Ureña’s team, with Azuquita having to be taken to the infirmary.

The fourth bullfight of the Autumn Fair therefore ended as an afternoon of contrasts, with Borja Jiménez’s ear providing the only tangible reward on a day dominated by difficulty.