The novillero Marco Pérez made his debut in Málaga with two ears and exited on shoulders through the Puerta Grande of La Malagueta. El Fandi added a trophy for each bull, while Borja Jiménez left without a prize despite delivering a more grounded performance.
The bullring of La Malagueta experienced a triumphant and dedicated afternoon this Sunday in the so-called Corrida de la Juventud. The novillero Marco Pérez, in his debut at the Málaga arena, cut two ears from the third bull of the afternoon and opened the Puerta Grande, a milestone that marks his career.
The corrida, from the El Parralejo ranch, presented uneven performances in terms of presentation, but several specimens showed good depth. The event had rhythm, excitement, and some debate, with three bullfighters offering very different styles.
El Fandi, true to his dedication
El Fandi once again made dedication his hallmark. In his first bull, he greeted it with a long change on his knees and continued with open-compass verónicas. In the banderillas, he showcased all his skill against a less cooperative animal, managing to lift the atmosphere with a second pair of merit and a third one executed from the stirrup.
The faena also began on his knees and found flashes of class in the bull, which initially responded well but quickly faded. When the animal became stationary, Fandi resorted to his most recognizable repertoire, with displays and closeness. The crowd responded, and the judges awarded him a generous ear.
In the fourth, with Marco Pérez already heading towards the Puerta Grande, El Fandi went to the pens and received 'Mestizo' on his knees, a bull that became one of the standout names of the corrida. The long change and the way he engaged it with lowered hands set the tone for a performance of grit. He took a step back and once again ignited the stands with his banderillas. The bull, significant for its right horn, demanded control and continuity. El Fandi took it to his territory, more festive than fundamental, but without holding back. The crossed sword diminished the overall performance, and the request for a second ear was not granted. The first was enough to acknowledge another afternoon of honour.
Borja Jiménez: essential, without adornments
Borja Jiménez walked a different path. He dedicated his second bull to José Carlos Escribano, president of the Chamber of Commerce, rancher, and former businessman of this arena, and took time to find the measure of a bull that was defining itself for the better. There were disarms and some touches on the muleta, but when the Sevillian managed to establish the distance on the left horn, a more grounded style emerged. A final series, citing from the front, had depth and flavour. The sword, however, was a barrier: a pinch, a crossed sword that guarded, and a long struggle with the descabello erased any chance of a prize.
In the fifth came perhaps the most serious part of his afternoon. Already with his triumphant companions, Jiménez did not go out to chase ears but to fight. He enjoyed the verónica and, after a disconcerting passage of the bull through the horse and banderillas, dedicated it to the public. The beginning had stillness and truth: three passes behind the back without correction. Afterward, the bull confirmed that it had more depth than it had shown, and Borja shaped it on both horns. In round and natural, the cleanest and most structured series of the event appeared, without superfluous adornments. The half sword required a descabello, and the triumph remained a vuelta al ruedo.
The afternoon left a clear balance: Marco Pérez exits on shoulders in his debut, El Fandi confirms his dedication, and Borja Jiménez, despite not adding trophies, delivers the most grounded performance. The Málaga fans, who filled the stands, celebrated a corrida with more emotion than brilliance, but with moments of truth.
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