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How are the six bulls assigned to matadors before a corrida?

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Julian Lopez El Juli, dressed in a blue and gold bullfighter costume, faces a charging bull while holding a pink and yellow cape in a sandy bullring in Barcelona. — bullfighting Spanish matador El Juli engaging a bull, June 6, 2010, Barcelona.

In a traditional bullfight, six bulls are participated in by three matadors, with each matador typically assigned two bulls.1

The assignment of these bulls is determined through a random drawing of lots, known as el sorteo. This process is conducted by the matadors' assistants on the morning of the scheduled afternoon fight.1