Talavante turns the second day of the Murcia Fair into a triumph

Alejandro Talavante was the outstanding performer at the second bullfight of the Murcia Fair. The Extremaduran matador found the measure of both his Juan Pedro Domecq bulls and finished the afternoon with three ears, earning a triumphant exit from the bullring on the shoulders of the supporters.

The corrida, staged before a crowd approaching a full house, also featured Morante de la Puebla and José María Manzanares. Both matadors cut an ear from their first bulls.

The occasion also had a special guest in attendance: Infanta Elena, who attended a bullfight at Murcia’s bullring for the first time.

Morante leaves his mark on his return to Murcia

Morante de la Puebla returned to Murcia after three years away. The Sevillian matador opened with several elegant verónicas before producing a notable quite by chicuelinas.

With the muleta, he began his work with naturalness, taking advantage of the bull’s nobility on the right-hand side. The animal showed quality, although its strength and momentum gradually diminished as the faena progressed.

Morante managed to produce several passages of great personality and artistic quality before going in for the kill. The resulting reward was an ear.

The fifth bull proved more demanding from the outset. It scraped the ground and showed little willingness to engage, giving Morante few opportunities with the cape. With the muleta, it initially defended itself, although the matador managed to find some cooperation in several right-handed passages.

The faena never developed fully and the final stages became complicated. After a deep pinch and three descabellos, Morante was applauded by the crowd.

Manzanares overcomes a demanding second bull

The second bull had to be replaced after entering the arena showing clear coordination problems. The replacement was a Juan Pedro Domecq sobrero.

Manzanares received it confidently with the verónica. The bull made a sound charge at the picador, although a fall after the encounter may have affected its subsequent performance.

The Alicante matador had to work hard to encourage the bull to lengthen its charges. It tended to shorten its stride and defend itself, but Manzanares found greater cooperation on the right.

Through patience and composure, he gradually built a faena that gained momentum and connected with the crowd. The reward was an ear.

With the fifth, Manzanares once again showed his elegance with the cape, enjoying himself with the verónicas. The bull was noble but lacked stamina and transmission.

Manzanares remained fully committed throughout the faena, although the bull’s limitations restricted his opportunities for greater artistic expression. He was applauded following his performance.

Talavante opens the Puerta Grande

Talavante produced the most decisive performance of the afternoon. The Extremaduran matador opened with a varied display of cape work before completing a quite featuring saltilleras and gaoneras, finished with great character.

His opening with the muleta was particularly vibrant. Talavante went down on one knee in the centre of the ring and immediately connected with the crowd.

The opening series displayed both rhythm and ligazón, although the bull subsequently began to lose strength and eventually sought the querencia. Rather than allowing the faena to fade, Talavante persisted, drawing out every last possibility from the animal.

The faena gathered intensity and reached the spectators with considerable force. After missing with his first attempt with the sword, he succeeded on the second and was awarded both ears.

The sixth allowed Talavante to complete his afternoon of triumph. After the horse, the bull became somewhat loose in the ring, but the matador managed to gather its charges and principally work it on the right.

The series grew in consistency as the faena progressed, and Talavante once again connected with the crowd. He secured another ear, despite hearing an aviso.

With three trophies to his name, Talavante was carried shoulder-high from Murcia’s bullring through the Puerta Grande.

Juan Pedro Domecq provides a mixed performance

The Juan Pedro Domecq corrida was well presented and produced varied behaviour. Some bulls allowed moments of quality, while others showed a lack of stamina, shorter charges or greater difficulties for the matadors.

The artistic balance of the afternoon was defined by Talavante’s triumph. The Extremaduran made the most of the best opportunities presented by his two bulls and delivered the most complete performance of the second corrida of the Murcia Fair.