The highly anticipated bullfight at Las Ventas more than met expectations, going beyond mere statistics. Although only one ear was awarded, it was deservedly given to David de Miranda. The afternoon was characterized by notable competitive duels in the cape work between De Miranda himself and Víctor Hernández, as well as skillful cape artistry throughout the event. The bulls from Alcurrucén were well-presented, with imposing horns and varied, interesting behavior, though none fully distinguished themselves.
One of the most striking moments was the competitive exchange between De Miranda and Hernández. After De Miranda received the bull with verónicas, the Madrid-born Hernández executed an extraordinary series of saltilleras. This prompted De Miranda to respond with chicuelinas, and later, Hernández intervened again with gaoneras, both maintaining remarkable stillness. The crowd responded with thunderous applause to the excitement, while the bull, spirited and demanding, maintained the tension.
The matador David de Miranda, after a spectacular start with the bull named ‘Heredero’, demonstrated command, depth, and composure in his performance. Despite the sword being slightly misplaced, his work earned him a deserved ear. With his second bull, following an audacious quite from Hernández, De Miranda again shone with his poise and relaxation, although the bull lost momentum before the left-handed passes, despite the bullfighter's efforts.
Fortes, aiming to reiterate his expressive and classical bullfighting style, faced bulls that were less cooperative than he had hoped. Nevertheless, he left his artistic mark, particularly with a series of highly tempered and slow natural passes with the first bull, which soon tired. His second bull also had a short duration.
Víctor Hernández, considered a promising talent, also lived up to expectations. With his first bull, which showed mobility but little class, he managed to extract some fine, isolated muleta passes with firmness. Facing the spirited fourth bull, he demonstrated his control by turning on his heels, showcasing his mastery and dominating the animal. However, the performance, more for the bullfighter than the audience, did not fully resonate with the stands, despite Hernández prolonging it to the point of a warning.
The bullfight, which lasted over two and a half hours, featured bulls from Alcurrucén, who were serious and well-armed, performing adequately in the initial passes. The trio of bullfighters met expectations, delivering an afternoon with emotional highs and lows but enough significant moments to maintain audience interest.
