A nice passage of play from Gloucester as scrum-half Caolan Englefield dummy throws the ball before off-loading to Zach Mercer and the hosts win a penalty at the breakdown.

Gloucester point to the posts and Adam Hastings kicks over the three points to stretch their lead.

The home fans aren't happy as it looks like Gloucester winger Jonny May is caught in the air.

The referee disagrees though and says May jumped into the tackler and that there's "no foul play".

First points on the board for Benetton as fly-half Tomas Albornoz takes the first penalty of the match with an easy kick right in front of the posts.

First real chance for Benetton to have a go at the Gloucester defence and it's scrappy at times but the Italians patiently build and creep their way forward.

They go up to 15 phases before a knock-on wins them a scrum inside the Gloucester 22.

Image source, Rex Features

The Gloucester fan faithful make Kingsholm a fortress and one of the most formidable grounds in terms of atmosphere, none more so than from their famous Shed stand, which is packed today.

And with most of the Benetton players having not experienced it before, the coaching staff have employed creative tactics this week to try and prepare the players for what they might be in for.

“In training we had the speaker on chanting ‘Glawsssterrrr’, how they chant, to get used to that, get used to the line-outs and getting close to being quite tight together because you’ve got a loud stadium,” Benetton’s Andy Uren, who moved to Italy from Premiership rivals Bristol last season told BBC Points West.

“I’ve played there a lot, I know a lot of their players, so I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into it. I know their Shed’s going to be pretty lively. We’ve got to quieten the Shed hopefully, play our gameplan and I can’t see why we can’t get the win.”

Simon Devereux
Former Gloucester forward on BBC Radio Gloucestershire

It was a clever little kick and Josh Hathaway shows his pace on the wing to dot down.

That is just the start that Gloucester needed.

That try will do Gloucester full-back Josh Hathaway's confidence a world of good.

The 20-year-old is starting in what is a massive game today for only the fourth time this season, with Argentine international Santiago Carreras unavailable after having appendix surgery.

Carreras is also Gloucester's leading points scorer in this competition so they're quite some boots to fill. So far, Hathaway is doing it.

Good start from Gloucester who win a turnover ball and gain a load of territory up the field to put the Benetton defence under pressure.

They win a line-out and their maul charges over the visitors' 22, but the Italian side come away with the penalty to clear the danger.

If you can't be at Kingsholm today never fear.

Click the buttons above to tune in to BBC 5Live Sports Extra or BBC Radio Gloucestershire to hear live coverage from Kingsholm while keeping up with our text updates.

Here we go then, referee Nika Amashukeli has blown his whistle and we are under way at Kingsholm.

Image source, Rex Features

Benetton have made seven changes to the side that were beaten by Ulster in the league last week.

Wingers Ignacio Mendy and Onisi Ratave are back in the squad, with Ignacio Brex partnering Tommaso Menoncello in the centre.

Benetton: Smith, Mendy, Menoncello, Brex, Ratave, Albornoz, Garbisi; Gallo, Nicotera, Ferrari, Scrafton, Snyman, Negri, Lamaro ©, Halafihi.

Replacements:Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Cannone, Iachizzi, Izekor, Uren, Marin.

Image source, Rex Features

Scotland fly-half Adam Hastings returns to Gloucester’s starting XV after missing their last two games, one of six changes director of rugby George Skivington has made to the side from their Premiership defeat last week by Exeter.

Josh Hathaway makes his fourth start of the season at full-back, with Caolan Englefield partnering Hastings at scrum-half and Seb Atkinson moving to centre.

Gloucester: Hathaway, May, Harris, S. Atkinson, Thorley, Hastings, Englefield; Vivas, Blake, Gotovtsev, Clarke, Thomas, Ackermann, Ludlow © Mercer.

Replacements: Socino, Ford-Robinson, Knight, Tuisue, Clement, Varney, C. Atkinson, Hearle.

Image source, Rex Features

There’s a feel-good factor around Italian rugby in 2024 and Benetton’s development has been hailed as a big part of that, with the club sending 20 players to the Azzuri’s Six Nations side this spring.

The tournament was the best-ever for Italy, with wins against Wales and Scotland and an agonising last-minute draw with France as they heralded in a new era under head coach Gonzalo Quesada.

Thirteen of Benetton’s matchday 23 today are Italian internationals, including captain Michele Lamaro, Six Nations player of the tournament Tommaso Menoncello and experienced flanker Sebastian Negri.

The club are eighth in the United Rugby Championship – a point behind fifth placed Stormers – and in a play-off spot that could see them into the Champions Cup next season for the first time in four years.

Head coach Marco Bortolami has also got a special insight into what it’s like playing at Kingsholm having spent four years at Gloucester from 2006-2010, during which time he skippered the side.

Still, no Italian team has ever reached a European cup final. Can Benetton change that today?

Gloucester have played Benetton three times previously in the Challenge Cup, in 2016, 2017 and 2021, with the Cherry and Whites coming out on top in all meetings.

The most recent was an eight-try 54-25 win in the group stages just over three years ago also took place at Kingsholm.

That Gloucester squad featured 10 of the matchday 19 that are named today.

Image source, Rex Features

While Gloucester might not have been enjoying a season to remember in the Premiership, in cup rugby it’s a totally different story.

After ending a nine-year wait for some silverwear by winning the first domestic trophy of the season with the Premiership Rugby Cup in March, the Cherry and Whites are one game away from another final this campaign.

Gloucester remain unbeaten in the Challenge Cup having come through the group stage as the only club that didn’t lose, and reached the final four having beaten Castres and Opsreys in the previous knock-out rounds.

They have also won the Challenge Cup twice before, in 2006 and 2015, and have been runners-up twice since in 2017 and 2018.

Director of rugby George Skivington said that the game was the “most important” of their season, especially after earning the right to play at their home stadium Kingsholm and with nothing left to play for in the league.

That being said, Gloucester’s form is rocky heading into the game, having lost to Saracens and Exeter in the Premiership in their most recent two outings.

Cup fever is in the air in Gloucester for the second time this season, as we head to Kingsholm for the semi-final of the European Challenge Cup.

The Cherry and Whites have the key home advantage for the final four tie but welcome Benetton, the Italian side leading the resurgence for the Azzuri over the last 12 months.

Kick-off is in 15 minutes so sit tight and we'll get you up to speed on what's to come.

Image source, Rex Features