Madrid Review – 10 May 2026

The third event of the San Isidro Fair brought a difficult afternoon at Las Ventas, shaped by strong wind, cool temperatures and the constant effort of the matadors. In a long corrida featuring an uneven performance from the Conde de Mayalde bulls, Román secured the only trophy of the day thanks to a committed and high-quality faena against the standout bull of the afternoon.

The Madrid crowd once again filled the stands in large numbers, although the development of the corrida was heavily affected by the challenging weather conditions and the inconsistent behaviour of the bulls. The Conde de Mayalde animals offered mixed performances, while the replacement bulls from Fermín Bohórquez, used for the first and sixth fights, also failed to deliver the expected quality.

The afternoon’s most important performance came from Román during his second appearance. The Valencian matador faced a bull named “Enarbolado”, an animal that showed rhythm, class and emotion during the final third of the fight. From the beginning of the faena, Román based his work on distance, rhythm and control, producing particularly strong moments with the right hand.

His right-handed series were deep, linked and elegant, gradually winning over the Las Ventas crowd as the faena gained intensity. He also produced long and clean natural passes before finishing with a powerful closing section. After a sword thrust executed recibiendo, the audience strongly requested a trophy and the president awarded one ear. The bull was applauded during the drag around the ring.

Román had far fewer opportunities with his first bull, an animal that faded quickly and offered little chance for success.

David Galván once again confirmed his growing maturity as a matador in Madrid. The Cádiz-born bullfighter delivered two serious and committed performances, particularly with the demanding first replacement bull from Fermín Bohórquez, which lacked clarity and consistency in its charges. Through determination and good positioning, Galván managed to produce several highly meritorious natural passes.

His afternoon was also marked by a serious scare suffered during a chicuelina cape pass to the third bull. Galván was heavily tossed and taken to the infirmary after receiving a strong blow to the lower back. Despite the incident, he returned to fight his second bull, once again showing great professionalism and commitment.

Against the replacement bull that closed the corrida, Galván again displayed honesty and determination, although the animal never fully developed in the muleta. A very effective sword thrust brought his performance to an end and earned him a warm ovation from the crowd.

Gonzalo Caballero spent the afternoon battling with a difficult and limited lot. His best moments came with the fifth bull, which he began with tight and dramatic statue-like passes before building a faena based on courage and close-range fighting. However, problems with the sword once again prevented any reward.

Among the bullfighting teams, Iván García and Ángel Gómez stood out in the banderillas, both receiving ovations from the Las Ventas crowd. Fernando Sánchez also delivered notable work in the handling of the bulls.