Morante shines in Mérida and shows the stature of a bullfighting great despite weak opposition

Morante de la Puebla arrived in Mérida as the clear attraction, and the crowd rose to greet him as soon as the procession ended. Dressed in a striking black suit with white shoulder ornaments, black-and-white trousers and a white cape over his shoulder, he looked every inch the elegant figure the evening had come to see.

The first bull offered little. A lightly built Álvaro Núñez animal showed scant strength from the outset, passed quietly through Morante’s cape and gave little after a single lance. Morante began his work cautiously, but the bull lacked depth, delayed its charge and moved awkwardly. Three linked right-hand passes briefly suggested more, though they proved an illusion.

His second bull was also undersized and showed little ambition, but Morante found more to work with. He opened with three long passes, including a farol, then added three verónicas and three upright chicuelinas as the bull shortened its steps. With very little animal in front of him, he began the faena softly and delicately, working with both hands. Across six series, he slowed the bull’s movement and used his temple to draw it forward.

The performance carried Morante’s signature: an upright stance, close positioning and a way of giving importance to a bull that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. His handling of the sword, however, was poor, and he ended by greeting the applause rather than collecting a major prize.

The rejoneo portion was less distinguished. Marcos Bastinhas received applause with the opening bull, whose strong gallop was handled unevenly. The Elvas forcados provided the evening’s most exciting moment by subduing the animal at the first attempt. The second horse bull was timid, sought the boards and made the riding display largely disappointing. Bastinhas also struggled with the descabello.