The biggest event of the afternoon occurred before the parade began, seeing that there was not a single empty seat in the arena. 11,457 spectators flocked to enjoy the art of bullfighting. Bullfighting is more alive than ever and the fans from Alicante are always present. Both bullfighters offered artistically moving moments, but errors with the sword prevented both from triumphantly exiting through the main gate.

The climax of José María Manzanares’ performance was with the excellent fifth bull from Victoriano del Río, which he fought with great skill. There were moments of intense connection with his compatriots, to whom he dedicated his bullfight. However, the executioner deprived him of the prize that he did obtain with the third, a jandilla that noticeably decayed and which he received with a long change of knees in the third. On this occasion, the sword worked perfectly and the ear was a prize in itself.

With the first bull, a docile animal from Daniel Ruiz, Manzanares showed composure and firmness in a very calculated bullfight that cooled with the prick prior to the thrust.

Andrés Roca Rey stood out with the brave jandilla that made second. Despite an apparent injury to his left hand, he excelled in the last third and the Peruvian chained an intense bullfight in a very reduced space. The delay of the bull in falling after the thrust, due to its bravery, made everything remain in a closed ovation.

With the fourth, a bull from Daniel Ruiz that noticeably decayed and that he dedicated to Ana, Manzanares’ sister, Roca Rey approached sincerely and performed a varied cape pass that lifted the spectators from their seats. A bull from Victoriano del Río closed the arena, which in the first thirds showed very promising signs but became too soon in the muleta. Despite this, the Peruvian placed himself in the place where the bulls have no choice but to charge. Once again, the steels deprived him of the prize.