Fortes and Roca Rey open the grand door in a Picassiana conditioned by the wind

The bullfighting season in Málaga couldn't have started on a better note. On an afternoon that had generated great expectation, as evidenced by the 'Sold Out' signs at the La Malagueta ticket offices in the morning, Fortes and Roca Rey triumphantly opened the 'Manolo Segura' main gate at the Picassian Bullfight. Despite the afternoon being affected by gusts of wind throughout the event, the tenacity of the Malagueño and the Peruvian overcame the weather challenges, providing a great and entertaining show. Juan Ortega, though fully committed, could only offer glimpses of his exquisite bullfighting concept.

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A glorious Saturday for a luxury lineup

The success of the afternoon was greatly contributed to by the good bullfight sent by the breeder Álvaro Núñez. Although the bulls were on the limit of presentation, they were of quality, which was rewarded with a lap of honor for the fourth bull. There remains a question of what could have happened if the strong wind had not affected the bullfight, as presumably, with such good raw material from the pasture, the artistic result might have been even better than what was seen at La Malagueta on a Saturday that was glorious not only in a religious sense but also in bullfighting.

Álvaro Núñez sends a good bullfight, and there remains a question of what could have happened if the bullfight had not been affected by the wind

Fortes returned to his arena in Málaga with the memory of his extraordinary performance at last August's fair still fresh, and the hope of seeing him perform at the highest level again. And the Malagueño did not disappoint. It was in the fourth bullfight where Fortes once again made history at La Malagueta with a peak performance. Spurred by Roca Rey's triumph in the previous bull, with whom he has established a healthy bullfighting rivalry since last August and yesterday's event, he went all out. The wind prevented him from using the cape freely, where he could only leave a good isolated veronica. With the muleta in hand, he did not hesitate and knelt down to start intensely. Standing up and in the middle, challenging the wind, he drew several superb natural series with slow, stately, and connected passes, bullfighting with his waist, which made the stands crackle. He killed with a detached thrust, and the arena was filled with white handkerchiefs demanding two very significant and valuable ears amid shouts of 'torero, torero!', while the box, with good judgment, awarded the lap of honor to 'Barredor'.

Fortes' performance is a new call to attention for the bullfighting authorities to include him in the lineups

A high-level performance that demonstrates the maturity Fortes is in, and which is a new call to attention for the bullfighting authorities to count on a bullfighter who has become essential for fairs and prestigious lineups.

In his first, his performance was greatly marked by the wind. The strong gusts prevented him from shining in the reception, although he could stretch out in a gaonera pass. The Malagueño's intention was clear when he went to dedicate to the public, at which moment 'Laborioso' charged from afar, Fortes stopped it with a left-handed pass, the hand on which he based the faena since it was the bull's best horn. Fortes tried, achieving some estimable naturals based on firmness and positioning, and at the end of the maneuver, he stole a couple of good right-handers closer to the boards; some manoletinas were the epilogue of his maneuver. He was not successful with the steels; he left a slash, a stab, a perpendicular thrust, and four descabellos.

All out

Roca Rey went all out in the first of his lot, which he received with some tight chicuelinas under a gale that he did not flinch from. He dedicated a faena developed meritoriously in the middle to the public. A trasteo started with some chilling statuaries where he remained impassive despite the strong wind blowing at that time. It was the prologue to a decisive faena where in the first part he left powerful passes with a low hand and, in the second, he entered the proximity areas, letting the horns touch his breeches in a demonstration of serene bravery that inflamed the stands that stood up when the faena concluded. He killed with a rear and fallen thrust and achieved two indisputable ears after a strong request.

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He could do little against the last of the evening, the most lackluster of the lineup since it lacked fixity and commitment. Roca Rey tried in the muleta faena started on his knees and where he left two very tight back passes. He tried on both horns but did not achieve bright rounds and again ended with a close encounter. He left a stab before delivering a thrust that left the prize in an ovation after a warning.

There was a lot of interest in seeing Juan Ortega and, especially his cape bullfighting. In his first, he could not stretch out in the reception and in the pass only a hint of a veronica that was cheered by the public was seen. He started the maneuver with some powerful low passes to bring 'Sosegado' to the third. The Sevillian tried but after suffering a charge from the right horn and being disarmed, he went for the sword after drawing a couple of good right-handers. He left two stabs and an almost complete thrust.

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He did touch hair in the fifth of the event when his two fellow poster mates had already blown open the main gate. Juan Ortega drew some estimable veronicas in the reception. He dedicated to the public a faena started with passes from above and some right-handers with a kneeling knee to bring 'Galiano' towards the middle. There he left several series of great substance for his bullfighting and the exquisite trace of the muletazos and their smoothness. The faena went from less to more and in the epilogue left some doblones filled with great flavor and substance. He left a stab before delivering an almost complete and rear thrust, leaving the prize in a deserved ear.

EVENT DETAILS

Location: La Malagueta bullring.

Breeding: Bulls from Álvaro Núñez of fair presentation, noble, with quality and that provided good play except the sixth, which was the most lackluster. The fourth, 'Barredor' was awarded a lap of honor.

Bullfighters: Fortes (green apple with Picassian motifs): silence after warning and two ears; Juan Ortega (tile and gold): silence and ear after warning; Roca Rey (white with Picassian motifs): two ears and ovation after warning.

Incidents: Opening of the season in Málaga. Full house 'Sold Out'. Picassian Bullfight. Sunny afternoon that ended overcast and cold where the wind blew intermittently throughout the event. At the end of the parade, the National Anthem was played, and the public forced the three right-handers to salute. Presided over by Carlos Bueno.