Magro and Velázquez stand out in Spanish-Portuguese rejoneo duel in Madrid

Madrid's Las Ventas bullring hosted a Spanish-Portuguese duel of six rejoneadores on August 20, 2026, with Iván Magro and Paco Velásquez delivering the most notable performances. Approximately 3,000 spectators attended the event, which featured bulls from the Passanha ranch.

Magro, from Madrid, impressed with moments of skill aboard his horse "Triunfador" against a bull of "dull nobility." Despite a late-acting death from his single death-thrust rejón, he received a modest request for an ear, ultimately earning a vuelta al ruedo. Among the Spanish riders, Sergio Domínguez was noted for his banderilla work but suffered an accident when his horse, "Litri," stumbled, causing the rider to miss his kill and end his turn in silence.

Adrián Venegas, another Spanish rejoneador, closed the event with a distracted bull that injured his horse "Requiebro." Venegas recovered and performed well, but his lack of decisive killing led to an ovation after a warning.

On the Portuguese side, Carlos Miguel Serodio "Parreirita" confirmed his alternative with a sincere but cautious bull, suffering a fall without consequence and failing with his death-thrust rejón. His performance concluded with silence after a warning. Ana Rita faced a challenging bull over 600 kilograms, showing resolution and bravery until struggling with the final kill, resulting in two warnings before the bull finally fell.

Paco Velásquez, who replaced an injured Moura Caetano at the last minute, was the other highlighted Portuguese rider. His performance, particularly with his horses "Volapié" and "Xarope," captivated the audience. A prior miss before the final thrust prevented him from earning an ear, leaving him with a vuelta al ruedo.