El Cid and Emilio de Justo Triumph in Ciudad Real on an Afternoon of Emotion and Drama

Ciudad Real once again breathed bullfighting air with the first corrida of the Virgen del Prado Fair 2025, an afternoon filled with triumph and tension, joy and fear. El Cid and Emilio de Justo were carried out on the shoulders of the crowd, but the day could easily have ended in tragedy after the serious goring suffered by the Extremaduran matador while going in to kill his first bull.

There was great anticipation in the stands. El Cid stepped in to replace Cayetano, sidelined due to injury, and the veteran from Salteras did not disappoint. He displayed all the experience of a seasoned maestro, timing each movement perfectly. With his first bull, noble and classy, he built a well-structured faena, full of control and rhythm, crowned by a superb series of natural passes that recalled his finest years. With the fourth, a difficult and retreating animal, he relied on patience and determination. While others might have given up, El Cid found a way to keep the bull engaged, finishing his work with a confident sword thrust that ensured his triumphal exit through the Puerta Grande.

Emilio de Justo, meanwhile, put his life on the line. He fought with sincerity and heart — the kind of courage that defines him — until the second bull caught him brutally as he went in for the kill. The impact was terrifying, and for a moment the entire arena fell silent. Yet the matador recovered, killed with a powerful sword thrust, and earned two ears amid thunderous applause. With the fifth, a bull offering no options and with the marks of the earlier blow still visible, De Justo showed his professionalism by continuing nonetheless, a gesture the crowd appreciated deeply.

Marco Pérez, the young bullfighter from Salamanca, showed ambition and composure beyond his years. Though he drew the least promising bulls, he made the most of his chances. With the sixth, he crafted a bright, creative faena, full of personality and flair, and was rewarded with one ear after finishing with the sword on his second attempt.

The worrying moment of the afternoon came when Morenito de Arles, one of De Justo’s banderilleros, was also struck by the second bull while attempting a quite (a defensive move). Both he and De Justo were later treated in the infirmary for multiple bruises — thankfully, nothing serious.

Heat, emotion, artistry, and fear — all in one afternoon. Thus began the Feria de la Virgen del Prado, confirming that El Cid remains a true matador, one who leads with quiet authority, and that Emilio de Justo is incapable of giving anything less than his all.