Review Madrid – 26 April 2026

The final bullfight of April at Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring produced a largely uneventful afternoon, shaped by the inconsistency of the Palha bulls and the injury suffered by Luis Gerpe in the sixth. More than 12,000 spectators attended a corrida that ultimately fell short of expectations.

Francisco José Espada was the matador who managed to produce the most noteworthy moments of the afternoon. His performance with the fifth bull, from Couto de Fornilhos, stood out for its determination and his ability to handle a demanding animal with uneven charges. Espada built a performance based on courage and persistence, producing several commendable passes on both sides. After a more effective second attempt with the sword, he was acknowledged with an ovation.

With his first bull, also from Palha, he faced an animal lacking both depth and willingness, limiting any real chance of success. Nevertheless, he showed clear commitment in a performance built on effort.

Sánchez Vara opened the afternoon with a manageable but unexciting bull that conditioned the rhythm of his performance. Despite his willingness and correct approach, he failed to connect with the crowd. A similar pattern followed in his second appearance, where once again he faced a bull offering little opportunity.

Luis Gerpe, for his part, showed determination throughout but was hindered by an uncooperative lot. In the sixth, while attempting to make the most of his final opportunity, he was caught during a right-handed series, suffering a heavy fall that forced his immediate transfer to the infirmary. Up to that point, his effort had been marked by commitment against a difficult and dangerous opponent.

The run of bulls, mainly from Palha with one from Couto de Fornilhos, lacked consistency overall. While some were manageable, the general tone was one of limited quality, low transmission and, at times, notable difficulty.

Medical report

Luis Gerpe suffered incised-contused wounds to the right parietal region and chin, as well as trauma to the right side of the chest and a puncture wound with haematoma on the upper inner thigh. He was transferred to hospital for further examination.
Condition: reserved.