Review Madrid – August 15th 2026

Las Ventas hosted a significant afternoon this Saturday, 15 August, as Antonio Puerta confirmed his alternative in Madrid. The Murcian matador found his best opportunity with his first bull, from an Araúz de Robles string that proved inconsistent in its performance.

The bullfight, held to mark the festivities of the Virgen de la Paloma, featured Javier Cortés, José Garrido and Antonio Puerta, who faced one of the most important occasions of his career.

A bull that offered a chance of triumph

Antonio Puerta‘s confirmation bull was a serious animal with quality in its charge. It showed better qualities than the rest of the string and allowed the matador to build a composed performance, particularly when working with the muleta in his right hand.

The Araúz de Robles bull charged promptly and with a degree of repetition, qualities which Puerta used to produce the strongest passages of his performance. However, the faena gradually lost momentum and did not quite reach the level required to turn the opportunity into a major triumph.

After a pinch and a sword thrust, there was a request for a trophy, but it was not enough to earn him the chance to walk through the Puerta Grande, the Great Gate reserved for the most successful performances at Las Ventas. Puerta instead acknowledged an ovation from the ring, demonstrating that he was able to respond to the demands of the world’s most prestigious bullring.

His second opponent offered very little. The bull arrived at the muleta with little energy, limiting Puerta’s possibilities from the outset. His work was met with silence.

José Garrido shines with the cape

One of the afternoon’s most striking moments came when José Garrido received the third bull with the cape. He produced several measured and graceful verónicas, finished with an elegant media, prompting an immediate response from the Madrid crowd.

His opening work with the muleta also showed promise, with authority and a series of doblones. However, the bull quickly ran out of steam and what had initially suggested the possibility of an important faena gradually faded away.

Garrido found no further reward with his second bull and finished the afternoon with silence after both performances.

Javier Cortés finds no opportunities

It was a particularly difficult afternoon for Javier Cortés, who encountered two bulls with little depth or staying power, leaving him few opportunities to develop his style of bullfighting.

His first opponent showed difficulties and a lack of commitment, while the fourth bull also failed to provide the continuity needed by the Madrid matador. His two performances passed without a significant response from the stands, with silence following both.

An inconsistent Araúz de Robles string

The Araúz de Robles bulls were generally well presented, serious animals with the substance and presence demanded at Las Ventas. Their performance, however, was uneven.

The first bull clearly stood out from the rest because of its superior qualities, particularly the quality of its charges and the possibilities it offered during the fight. The remaining bulls lacked the stamina and depth needed to allow the matadors to develop their performances.

Antonio Puerta’s confirmation therefore ended with an ovation and a silence. The Murcian came close to turning his Madrid debut into something more significant, but he nevertheless delivered a composed performance against the bull that offered the greatest possibilities of the afternoon.