El Fandi opens the Murcia Fair with two ears and a triumphant exit

El Fandi claims the first Puerta Grande of the Murcia Fair

The 2026 Murcia Fair already has its first matador to leave through the Puerta Grande. El Fandi cut one ear from each of his bulls and was carried out of the arena after the opening bullfight of the series, staged with a mixed-performing corrida from La Palmosilla.

The afternoon also marked the return, after 37 years, of a line-up featuring three matadors particularly renowned for their work with the banderillas: Antonio Ferrera, El Fandi and Manuel Escribano.

Ferrera added another trophy to the afternoon, while Escribano, despite producing several noteworthy passages, was unable to turn his performance into a trophy.

Ferrera combines experience, commitment and banderillas

The first scheduled bull had to be replaced after breaking a leg. A replacement from the same La Palmosilla breeding was brought into the ring, and Antonio Ferrera immediately showed assurance with the cape.

The Extremaduran then shared the banderillas with his fellow matadors and found his best moments with the muleta on the left hand. The bull had mobility but lacked the commitment needed to sustain the intensity of the performance.

Ferrera rose above the limitations of his opponent and, after a slightly forward sword thrust, there was a request for an ear from the crowd which was not granted by the president. He was awarded a lap of honour.

His second appearance developed differently. Ferrera welcomed the fourth bull with the cape before taking the picador’s equipment himself and overseeing the first stage of the bullfight. He then performed a quite by navarras before once again sharing the banderillas.

He dedicated his faena to Rafaelillo and began on his knees against a bull that tended to stop short and defend itself. The Extremaduran persisted and extracted everything the animal had to offer. After two failed sword attempts followed by a successful sword thrust, he was awarded one ear.

El Fandi turns his skills into two ears

El Fandi immediately connected with the crowd. He opened his first encounter with a series of largas cambiadas before sharing the banderillas with Ferrera and Escribano.

The bull was noble but lacked strength and transmission. The Granada-born matador compensated for those shortcomings with experience, determination and a performance built around making the most of every opportunity.

A highly effective sword thrust sealed the performance and earned him the first ear of his afternoon.

The fifth bull brought the decisive moment of the afternoon. El Fandi once again excelled with the banderillas, particularly with a fourth par al violín, which thrilled the crowd.

With the muleta, the bull initially offered some possibilities before deteriorating. El Fandi continued to insist, producing a performance characterised by commitment and persistence.

The sword provided the finishing touch and the president awarded the second ear, allowing El Fandi to leave through the Puerta Grande of Murcia.

Escribano shows quality but leaves without a trophy

Manuel Escribano was less fortunate with his bulls. His first opponent nevertheless allowed him to produce some of the most interesting passages of his performance.

After dedicating the faena to Pepín Liria, he began with passes changing direction behind the back and then found a productive rhythm on the left hand, allowing the bull the necessary time and producing several well-shaped muletazos.

The performance lost momentum when the bull began looking for the exit. Escribano continued searching for solutions and finished with a series of manoletinas. He initially missed with the sword and subsequently needed the descabello, receiving an ovation after a warning.

The sixth offered even fewer opportunities. Escribano produced good verónicas and once again stood out with the banderillas, particularly with a third pair executed with a quiebro close to the barrier.

However, the bull proved difficult with the muleta from the outset. The matador tried on both sides without finding the necessary response and ultimately heard silence.

La Palmosilla provides an uneven challenge

The La Palmosilla bulls were well presented but varied considerably in their behaviour. The three matadors had to work particularly hard to extract the most from animals which, in several cases, showed limitations in strength, scope or transmission.

Against this backdrop, the ability of all three matadors to find solutions played an important role in shaping the afternoon.

The result leaves El Fandi as the first matador to leave through the Puerta Grande at the 2026 Murcia Fair, while Antonio Ferrera added one ear and Manuel Escribano finished without trophies.