Review Madrid – 1 October 2026

The 2026 Autumn Fair got underway at Las Ventas with an El Retamar novillada that produced mixed performances, with Sergio Rollón and Nacho Torrejón making their mark and earning ovations from the Madrid crowd.

El Mene, meanwhile, left without reward despite showing glimpses of his bullfighting style against a pair that ultimately failed to provide him with the conditions needed to make a greater impact.

The opening fixture of the series drew 17,304 spectators, with the fifth novillo standing out in particular, while the first also offered opportunities. The third, manageable but with its own difficulties, allowed Rollón to produce one of the more interesting performances of the afternoon.

Rollón makes the most of the third

Sergio Rollón, who joined the bill as a replacement for Mario Vilau, had to wait until the third novillo before finding an opponent that allowed him to display his qualities.

He made a positive impression from the outset with the cape, opening with a well-executed series of verónicas. With the muleta, he quickly found the right way to guide the bull’s charge down the right-hand side, linking several series that connected with the crowd.

However, it was when he switched to the left hand that the most convincing version of the young matador emerged. A deeper, more connected series of natural passes raised the level of a performance in which the sword ultimately played an important role.

Rollón committed himself fully to the final act and delivered a fine sword thrust, although it took some time for the blade to take effect. An advisory bell was sounded and the crowd responded with an ovation.

The sixth proved more demanding. Rollón was unable to establish the same connection and, despite his willingness, the performance did not reach the level of his first appearance.

Torrejón finds his rhythm with the fifth

Nacho Torrejón was one of the standout names of the afternoon thanks to his performance with the fifth, a novillo that displayed rhythm and transmission for much of the performance.

The Madrid-born matador quickly settled into the bull’s rhythm and found a positive response on the right. The performance grew as the passes developed, reaching its strongest point when he switched to the left.

A well-constructed and stylish series of natural passes allowed Torrejón to demonstrate a more mature approach, with the ability to slow and shape the bull’s charge.

The novillo, however, lost its stamina rather too quickly and the performance was unable to maintain the intensity it had reached. Following a failed sword attempt and a further thrust, Torrejón received another ovation.

His first opponent also offered possibilities, although the performance never quite developed the continuity needed to bring it to a satisfying conclusion. There were some worthwhile passages, but the faena remained below what the novillo had offered.

El Mene leaves glimpses without reward

El Mene displayed a sound bullfighting concept throughout the afternoon, although he never quite found the necessary connection with either of his two opponents.

The first had some useful qualities and the young matador showed glimpses of his ability, but he needed time to adjust his distances and find the right measure for the bull’s charge.

With the fourth, which was considerably less forthcoming, his opportunities were greatly reduced. El Mene searched for solutions and produced some stylish touches, but without the possibility of building a performance of greater substance.

In both cases, the sword ultimately contributed to the final outcome, with his performances being met with silence.

El Retamar produces an uneven novillada

The El Retamar string, well presented overall, provided an inconsistent afternoon. The first and fifth offered the greatest opportunities to the young matadors, while the third also produced some interesting moments.

The remaining novillos demanded greater effort and tested the performers’ ability to find solutions when conditions became more difficult.

The opening bullfight of the Autumn Fair therefore left two names in the spotlight: Nacho Torrejón and Sergio Rollón, both of whom managed to earn an ovation from the Las Ventas stands and provide reasons for optimism ahead of their next opportunities.