Class in the Muleta is Not Enough

Alejandro Talavante pardoned 'Gavilán-209'. Was it for its complete performance in all three thirds? No. For its brave fight with the horse? Neither. For its classy charges in the muleta? Yes, for its tempered charges in the muleta. The pardon should consider the overall behaviour. This did not happen this Sunday in Alicante. Nevertheless, two ears and a tail.

Juan Ortega accompanied the Extremaduran bullfighter in the shoulder exit. He did so after two tempered performances, a hallmark of his, where stillness and artistry were present in the Triana native.

Marco Pérez is not a child bullfighter. He is a true bullfighter. Knowing that a toss could come, he risked it with the complicated third bull. A performance of dry and serene courage. Even so, he could not avoid one of the bull's final blows and was caught, unable to return to the ring as he had to be taken to the hospital. Marco Pérez has earned a return to Alicante in 2026.

There is no bullfighting event in Alicante that he does not attend. The latest, the meeting with Tauro-Joven led by Juan Ortega this Sunday morning at the Puerta Grande of the bullring. A true aficionado. He generates excitement in every project he gets involved in. A staunch defender, with logical and weighty arguments, of bullfighting.

Entrepreneur of initiatives. Champion of those that, without organizing them, come to his hands. A reference in Alicante. A person to consult. He guarantees respect for the binomial formed by bull and bullfighter. He does not openly favour either. Both, together, he has assured, shape the bullfighting spectacle. He is José María Jericó Serrano, president of the 'Amigos de Nimes' Tertulia.

High at the withers. Wobbles in Alejandro Talavante's cape. Takes two picadors without engaging. Presses in banderillas. Temper in AT's muleta in round passes with depth. Lacks transmission in Niñato-82. Naturally, Talavante is easy and tempered. Without the emotion of spirited charges. Ear after a detached and forward thrust in the natural luck.

Third bull, 'Rosito-203', short journey in Marco Pérez's cape. Wobbles in the first third. Measured picador. Tempered charges. Hurts in banderillas. MP reaches the stands with passes changed behind the back at the start of his muleta performance. With the serenity of a seasoned bullfighter, he handles the short charges of a bull that tosses its head. The Salamanca bullfighter exposes himself. Crosses to the opposite horn. A show of dry courage. A test of maturity against a 'cuvillo' that offers no gifts. The expected toss comes, leaving him with impaired faculties. Two pricks and a thrust. Ear not paraded. Heads to the infirmary.

Talavante pardons a bull that only receives a prick in the horse. Unheard of. Gavilán-209 had class. Engaged in the muleta. Followed Talavante's lines with openness. In the end, after a very long performance, a "little theatre" by the bullfighter joined by the president. One did not enter to kill. The other, to do so. Yes. No. Embarrassment of a pardon to a classy bull without a picador that returns to its farm in Vejer de la Frontera. Until when?

Temper in the charges to JO's cape had the fifth. Evidenced in a very slow chicuelinas, where the bull also lost its footing. Prick in the horse as was the constant of the afternoon. Lacked the emotion that the bull brings in a classic muleta performance with the best series naturally. Prick and thrust after warning to achieve his second ear.

Off the ground. Lacking class in Talavante's cape. Without engaging in the horse. Bullish. Presses in banderillas. Short charges lacking class. Without delivery or transmission. Talavante, above the condition of the 'cuvillo'. Calm. Given to improvisation in a long performance hampered by those docile charges, far from those of a brave bull. Prick and short detached thrust. Silence.