Review Bullfight Seville – 27 September 2024

The afternoon began with Sebastián Castella, who greeted the bull with an elegant cape work, including kneeled passes and smooth verónicas, finishing with a refined half-verónica. José Chacón received applause for his work with the banderillas. Castella began his faena with tight estatuarios and two series of smooth right-hand passes that quickly connected with the crowd. The bull, noble on the right side, allowed the matador to shine, although the intensity dropped slightly when he switched to the left. He regained control with the right hand and finished with some precise manoletinas before a well-executed sword thrust. A well-earned ear.

With the second bull in his lot, Castella showed flashes of brilliance with verónicas on the left side. After carefully handling it with the horse, he dedicated the bull to the public and confidently led it to the centre of the ring. The bull, with an uncertain charge, was very defensive, making it difficult for the matador to excel. Despite his efforts, he was unable to complete the faena and finished with an effective sword thrust. Silence.

Alejandro Talavante started his afternoon smoothly with the cape. The second bull of the day received two strong puyazos, but showed great quality in its charge. Talavante, comfortable and in sync, performed an extraordinary faena, particularly shining with the right hand, where he extended the passes with great elegance. He also achieved deep passes with the left hand. He ended his work with right-hand passes on his knees and a flawless change of hand. After a swift sword thrust, he cut two ears, and the bull was awarded a lap of honour.

For the fifth bull, which he dedicated to the public, Talavante remained inspired from the first series of passes. He performed with naturalness and smoothness, especially with the left-hand passes that prompted the music to start playing. The faena grew in intensity, standing out for its beauty and strength. With another effective sword thrust, he cut the ear he needed to open the Puerta del Príncipe, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

Daniel Luque was very committed with his first bull, delivering excellent cape passes against a challenging bull. Iván García was applauded for his work with the banderillas. Luque’s muleta work was powerful and commanding, as he dominated from the first series of right-hand passes. The bull weakened as the faena progressed, but the matador from Gerena managed to maintain the intensity, closing his faena with bravery and close proximity to the bull, which stirred the crowd on several occasions. After a sword thrust, the bull took time to fall, and Luque cut an ear after a warning.

The sixth bull lost strength after the encounter with the horse. Luque tried with patience, looking for isolated passes, but the Victoriano del Río bull lacked the energy to transmit anything. After testing both sides, he decided to end it with a stab and sword thrust. Silence.