The second novillada of the Begoña Fair 2024 in Gijón was highlighted by the young novillero Marco Pérez, who cut the only ear of the event. Despite strong performances, missed sword attempts defined the mano a mano between two of the most promising novilleros of the season. The mixed novillada featured bulls from El Freixo, Núñez del Cuvillo, and La Quinta, presenting a varied and challenging line-up for the young bullfighters.

Event Review

Marco Pérez, from Salamanca, stood out in the fourth fight, managing to cut an ear after an intelligent and resourceful display against a demanding bull from El Freixo. His performance was well received by the crowd, demonstrating his poise and technique in handling the bull’s difficulties. However, he missed the chance for more trophies earlier in the day with the second bull from Núñez del Cuvillo, which was noble but lacked stamina, and with the sixth from La Quinta, where he gave the most impactful performance of the evening but struggled with the sword.

Manuel Román, for his part, showcased his style and flair in various moments throughout the afternoon. He handled the first bull from El Freixo with elegance, demonstrating his good taste. Against the third from La Quinta, he started with great rhythm, and with the fifth from Núñez del Cuvillo, he excelled with masterful left-hand passes. However, his lack of precision with the sword cost him any chance of trophies, leaving him without reward despite his noteworthy efforts.

The mano a mano between these two rising talents offered a glimpse into the future of bullfighting, though missed sword thrusts overshadowed what could have been a more triumphant afternoon. The ear for Marco Pérez was the only trophy in a novillada that left a good impression, despite the lack of awards.