PLAZA TOROS CIUDAD REAL

Diego Ventura crowns the Ciudad Real Fair in an afternoon of contrasts

Review Ciudad Real – 21st August 2026

Seville-born rejoneador Diego Ventura was the only matador to leave through the main gate in front of a capacity crowd, while Talavante and Roca Rey missed out on rewards due to their finishing with the sword.

The Virgen del Prado Fair came to a close in Ciudad Real with a capacity crowd and an afternoon defined by anticipation, quality bullfighting and, above all, the fine line between delivering a great performance and finishing it successfully with the sword.

Diego Ventura emerged as the outstanding winner of the afternoon. The Seville-born rejoneador cut two ears from the fourth bull and was carried out through the main gate, while Alejandro Talavante and Roca Rey were left with the feeling that they had done enough to win, only for their final attempts with the sword to deny them the rewards.

Even before the paseíllo, the atmosphere suggested that the final bullfight of the fair would attract a strong response from the public. The capacity crowd confirmed the renewed interest in a festival that has continued to regain momentum and prominence in Ciudad Real.

Ventura finds his reward with the fourth

Diego Ventura began the afternoon against a Sánchez y Sánchez bull which immediately showed a tendency to head towards the barriers. The rejoneador had to work hard to build his performance and offer different facets, although his lack of accuracy with the killing rejón meant that he ultimately received an ovation.

Things changed with the fourth. Ventura approached the performance with determination and found a bull which, despite losing strength as the contest progressed, allowed him to build an increasingly intense display.

Riding Bronce, Ventura produced some of the most memorable moments of the afternoon, keeping his horse extremely close to the bull and executing the various rejoneo techniques with precision and flair. The short banderillas and roses brought a spectacular performance to a close and connected strongly with the crowd.

The killing rejón required a second attempt, but this time the result was successful. Two ears for Ventura and a triumphant exit through the main gate as the fair came to an end.

Talavante and a fine second bull without reward

Alejandro Talavante encountered one of the most interesting bulls of the afternoon in the second. The Victoriano del Río animal displayed nobility and quality, particularly on the left, allowing the Extremaduran to develop a performance based on a strong and elegant concept.

Talavante controlled the tempo naturally and produced high-quality muleta work on both sides. Some of the strongest moments came with the naturales, although the performance lacked the final decisiveness required to give it the full reward the bull seemed to merit.

His failure with the sword ultimately cost him the prize, and the matador was forced to settle for an ovation.

The fifth offered very little. Lacking strength, with little willingness to engage and limited travel, the bull gave Talavante few opportunities to develop his performance. The Extremaduran tried to find a response from both sides, but the animal offered no real collaboration and the performance had to be kept short. A warning was given before an unfortunate finish with the sword.

Roca Rey raises the temperature

Roca Rey once again showed why his presence generates such enormous anticipation. With the third bull, the Peruvian immediately raised the intensity of the afternoon during his quite, performing a combination of saltilleras and gaoneras that had the crowd on its feet.

The opening of his muleta work was equally spectacular. He began on his knees in the centre of the ring, executing passes behind the back and immediately looking to establish a powerful connection with the spectators.

The bull eventually lost momentum and began to defend itself, forcing Roca Rey to reduce the distance. The Peruvian accepted the challenge and finished with one of his characteristic displays of extreme closeness, but his lack of accuracy with the sword and descabello eliminated any chance of a formal prize.

His second appearance also contained plenty of substance. The sixth allowed the Peruvian to produce a commanding performance, particularly on the right hand, with firm, well-structured series as the bull gradually reduced its travelling distance.

The final stages once again raised the temperature in the arena. Roca Rey positioned himself almost between the bull’s horns and pushed the distances to the limit in search of victory. His commitment was beyond question, but once again the final use of the sword prevented the reward. The resulting ovation reflected the crowd’s appreciation for the effort and intensity of his performance.

A fair continuing to gain momentum

The final bullfight of the Virgen del Prado Fair leaves, beyond the individual results, an important image for bullfighting in Ciudad Real: a capacity crowd for a card featuring leading names and a fair that continues to consolidate its recovery.

Only Diego Ventura completed a triumphant paseíllo, but both Talavante and Roca Rey produced performances in which the sword ultimately proved the decisive obstacle.

The fair therefore came to an end with a combination of atmosphere, anticipation and memorable moments in the ring, providing reasons for optimism about the future. Ciudad Real responded in the stands and provided the strongest possible setting for the conclusion of its bullfighting cycle.

EVENT DETAILS

Ciudad Real bullring

Date: Friday, 21 August 2026. Event: Fourth and final bullfight of the Virgen del Prado Fair season-ticket programme. Attendance: Full house.
Bulls

Two Sánchez y Sánchez bulls for rejoneo and four from Victoriano del Río and Toros de Cortés for the matadors on foot. Well presented and varied in terms of performance. The second and sixth stood out, while the fifth was lacking in drive and offered little.
Diego Ventura

Ovation and two ears.
Alejandro Talavante

Ovación con saludos y silencio tras aviso.
Roca Rey

Applause after a warning and ovation.
Incidents

The Spanish national anthem was played at the end of the paseíllo. Agustín de Espartinas was applauded after placing the banderillas on the second bull, while Viruta received the same recognition after his work with the sixth.