**The first Italian derby of the 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 season will finally take place on Saturday as Benetton and Zebre renew their rivalry at the Stadio Monigo.** A week after the two sides were due to meet in a festive Boxing Day bonanza, Kieran Crowley’s men will host their Italian neighbours in a Round 10 blockbuster in Treviso. With both sitting bottom of their conference, this encounter presents an opportunity for Benetton and Zebre to claim more than just bragging rights as they look to climb the standings. **What’s at stake?** Benetton are yet to taste victory in the Guinness PRO14 from their seven games so far this season, but what better way to end their barren run than to down their Italian rivals. The Treviso-based team have not prevailed in a domestic match since triumphing against Saturday’s opponents in Parma back in August and are bottom of Conference B. It’s been over a year since Benetton won a match on their own turf - their 36-25 victory over Zebre in December 2019 - but they traditionally have had the edge over their compatriots. Benetton have 15 wins to Zebre’s five in their 20 meetings and the Conference A visitors have also struggled this season, with just one victory in the campaign so far. With their first derby meeting last weekend in Parma called off due to a small number of positive Covid-19 cases, the two teams will be eager to finally do their talking on the pitch. **What happened last time they met?** The final two regular rounds of the 2019/20 season, following rugby’s resumption, saw back-to-back Italian derbies with Zebre clinching the first 17-13 on Benetton soil. But Benetton got their own back in Parma immediately with a 16-9 triumph thanks to Monty Ioane’s impressive double which secured fifth in Conference B for the Treviso side. Antonio Rizzi slotted two penalties to Tommaso Allan’s one in the early stages but the game really came to life in the 20th minute when Ioane finished in the corner to give the visitors an 8-6 lead. Just six minutes later the Australian-born Italy international had his second, the winger dancing his way through the Zebre defence to cross the whitewash from close range. **What have they said?** **Benetton assistant coach Ezio Galon said:** “Derbies are never easy games because there is a lot of competition, the boys know each other well and want to prove their worth. “They are not generally open matches because the stakes are mentally high, there is also the place in the national team at stake, there are various factors that affect the result. “Taking into account the period and the conditions, I don't expect an open or spectacular match, I expect a match in which strategy and discipline will have an important weight. “The number of errors will also have a specific weight; this will be the key to Saturday's match: being able to be disciplined, being able to make few mistakes, being very solid in the basics.” Zebre will be without captain Giulio Bisegni who is set to be sidelined for the rest of the season after tearing his pectoral muscle in his side’s European match against Brive. **A Zebre statement said:** “The centre and captain of the Zebre Rugby Club Giulio Bisegni underwent surgery on Tuesday 29 December on his left breastplate at the City of Parma Hospital, top sponsor and healthcare partner of the Parma-based company. “The surgery was performed by Dr. Carlo Felice De Biase and his assistant Dr. Giovanni Ziveri and it was necessary following a trauma that occurred on December 18th, during the Challenge Cup match at Brive, which caused a muscle injury and a complete detachment of the tendon. “The operation was successful and the estimated prognosis is five months. The athlete – who took the field in 107 official appearances with the franchise and has made 16 appearances in the Italy shirt – has already started the process of functional recovery under the supervision of the medical and physiotherapy staff of the Zebre Rugby Club.” **Where can I watch it?** The clash between Benetton and Zebre will be live on Premier Sports 2, with coverage starting at 12.55pm for a 1pm kick off. The game will also be live on DAZN and pro14.tv.
