Cruel end for a great Perera and a brave Anarchist in Seville

Miguel Ángel Perera was returning from conquering the most royal Puerta del Príncipe at the last April Fair; Santi Domecq was returning after fighting the most accomplished bullfight in Seville. And this, combined with the recent triumphs of Manuel Escribano and Borja Jiménez, and the already lit bullfighting lanterns, gave a picture of a full house, with only a little left to go. Of the three contenders, only the veteran from Extremadura remained in the running, punished by fate against the most notable Domecq bull. This is the story of an afternoon in which no one renewed their glories, near or far.

At 7:59 p.m., Perera and Santi temporarily repeated past successes with an unfair and unequal ending. Even cruel, I'd say. It hurts that after turning the Maestranza upside down, the descabello robs you of a legitimate triumph. And it hurts even more if the balance is unbalanced because the box decides to award a lap of the ring during the drag, which I don't know what to do. It sounded like a mess. MAP had brought order and control to Anárquico's bravery, with the added handicap of also controlling the wind. And the bull, precisely because of his bravery, demanded extraordinary precision. And so did the terrain most exposed to the wind. That was where the Extremaduran pulled it off after a fiery prologue under the flag and a commanding first series between the lines in which Anárquico squeezed incredibly hard. Outside the third, more unprotected, Miguel Ángel imposed control and connection, the composure that seemed impossible; The bull - handsome and well-built - responded to everything with promptness, repetition and more obedience than class.

The faena was necessarily carried out right-handed, except for a left-handed series that required the help of the simulated sword. Everything was low, the muleta dragging, with a superb plumb line, that seat, the work crackled and set Seville ablaze with its extreme stillness, between eights and braids, circular. Like the tightly connected chest passes, they started a fire. The sword thrust was more forceful than deadly, due to its light traverse. The descabello turned into an impossible mission with Anárquico covering his neck. Two warnings fell before the notable bull. And then the blue handkerchief and the reduction of the prize on Perera's record to a standing ovation. Cruel fate.

He couldn't overcome his misfortune against the fifth bull from Santi Domecq's prepared corrida, a powerful presence. This second-to-last bull didn't go beyond his appearance , as poorly pitted as it was out of rhythm and lacking in zeal. And Miguel Ángel Perera was left with the bitter taste of lost success.

Manuel Escribano was a lively bull in the early stages of the afternoon, facing a powerful and dynamic bull. From the hurried long exchange at the gate of the bullpen to the banderillas, the Domecq—tight-bodied and open-faced—launched himself at full speed. He thus attacked the horse when the matador from Gerena showed him off at length . A thrust from the rear and another to the yolk of Juan Francisco Peña—who had been unhorsed in the second encounter—sparked feverish enthusiasm. The noble charge for the muleta occurred at different rhythms in the first three series, which was more or less the time it lasted before petering out. Escribano delivered, going unnoticed against a fourth bull with the air of a Villamarta, ill-mannered, with more class than drive, and demanding temperance.

Borja Jiménez took a long time to focus on the more stylish horn, the left horn of the third bull, which was lighter in anatomy. The performance showed great promise with a formidable start of demanding double passes . But he persisted in three right-handed series in which the manageable charge lacked a final touch. With his natural pass, he successfully drew that striking curve that rounds off the pass behind the hip. The final breath was needed to give the performance a real lift.

Jiménez put all his effort into the final bullfight. Spirited, brash, with plenty of mobility and a shot at coming forward, but not a stride to leave. Borja went to the porta gayola, fervent in his mix of moves—chicuelinas, aprons—and fiery in his kneeling start: not the most conducive to submission. The bull, which wreaked havoc with the banderillas, was as laborious as it looked. And BJ gave everything he could.