Sean Everitt's side had won their opening four matches of the campaign but were behind inside two minutes in this one when Piero Gritti crossed for the previously winless Italians.

Benetton were the better side in the opening quarter, and their momentum was not significantly checked, even when when Matias Medrano's hit on Grant Gilchrist earned him a 20-minute red card.

Ignacio Mendy went over for a second try before Callum Hunter-Hill's yellow card left Edinburgh with 14 men.

Bautista Bernasconi's try, plus Jacob Umaga's penalty, gave Benetton an 18-0 interval lead - an advantage that was stretched further after the break by another Umaga penalty and Onisi Ratave's try.

Harri Morris and Harry Paterson both went over for Edinburgh to add an air of respectability to the scoreline, but a late penalty ensured the hosts had the final word.