Marco Pérez takes command with two ears in a high-stakes mano a mano

The start of the event was delayed by twenty minutes due to a power outage, but interest quickly reignited as Marco Pérez opened proceedings by kneeling at the gate (portagayola) to receive his first bull. Though unseated during the long cambiada, he regained composure with a graceful series of chicuelinas after the two picador rounds. His faena began with statuesque passes and low muletazos that immediately drew warmth from the crowd. A strong series of linked passes on the right followed, finished with beautiful chest passes. The natural (left-handed) work dipped slightly but regained rhythm with more confident right-hand sequences. It was a display of bravery and control against a good Talavante bull. A half-estocada was enough to earn him the first ear of the day.

Javier Zulueta responded in kind, greeting his bull with slow, elegant verónicas, particularly exquisite down the left side. The bull took a hard tumble, which seemed to affect its energy. Pérez offered a graceful delantal-laced quite with a neat half-verónica to finish. Zulueta’s faena began with high passes from a kneeling position. The opening right-handed series showed poise and quality, and though the bull began to tire, the Sevillian matador maintained class and composure throughout. He killed with a sword on the second attempt and received a warm ovation.

The third bull, lacklustre from the outset, gave little opportunity for Marco to shine with the cape, nor for Zulueta to offer a notable quite. Pérez opened with backhand muletazos in the centre of the ring. He worked the right side patiently, managing some clean passes despite the bull’s reluctance, even threatening to lie down. A few well-measured natural passes and slow, circular right-handers came late in the faena. After two failed sword attempts, he landed a clean estocada. Silence.

Zulueta’s second bull had more energy. He welcomed it with confident verónicas, gaining ground and finishing with an “abelmontada” half-verónica. The bull moved well, and Zulueta capitalised, connecting early with two composed series on the right and two exquisite series on the left. The quality of his natural passes and a composed, grounded final right-handed series revealed the maturity of a fully developed torero. He closed with a majestic front-facing natural series. A strong estocada led to a two-ear request, but the president awarded just one.

Marco Pérez once again went to portagayola for his final bull. This taller, soap-coloured specimen was handled carefully in the horse and responded reasonably in the muleta, though with some delay. Pérez extracted long, tempered naturals one by one, then dominated with the right hand in a commanding faena that unified the audience’s opinion. After a first missed attempt with the sword, he landed an effective estocada and earned another ear.

Zulueta welcomed the sixth and final bull at portagayola, followed by neat verónicas and a smooth half-verónica to finish. The bull fought well in the horse but stopped short in the muleta, defending itself rather than charging. Zulueta did not give up, staying close and managing to pull out some fine naturals despite the difficult temperament. A well-placed estocada earned him an ovation.

This was a promising afternoon of young talents hungry to prove themselves—an event far from just another novillada. The crowd left with the sense of having witnessed something special at the Maestranza.