The neighbors Don Benito and Villanovense battle for local pride
If we disregard the clubs that have ever reached the Primera or Segunda División, Don Benito and Villanovense can be considered some of the most-supported and best-performing clubs of the region Extremadura. Curiously, both clubs represent two bordering and rivaling cities: Don Benito and Villanueva de la Serena. This rivalry forms the basis of one of Spain’s lesser-known yet intense derbies: el derbi de las Vegas Altas.
Two similar cities
Don Benito and Villanueva de la Serena are two cities close to the heart of Extremadura, in the west of Spain. Together they have over 60,000 inhabitants, and, considering their proximity and close cooperation, the two cities are often regarded as one: Don Benito-Villanueva de la Serena.
Nevertheless, there are enough differences between Don Benito and Villanueva de la Serena. The former is known for a particular product: pumpkins (calabazas in Spanish). The municipality annually organizes the ‘Pumpkin Days’, during which many gastronomical activities and contests are organized, among which a competition for the biggest pumpkin of the year. It’s not strange that calabazones is a nickname for the inhabitants of Don Benito.
A particular story about Villanueva de la Serena explains the origin of the city’s name, which literally means ‘New Town of the Siren’. According to the legend, a siren lived in the river Guadiana since the Middle Ages, very close to where Villanueva de la Serena is located now. She had a green tail and green eyes and seduced many men with her beauty and voice, after which she ate them up. Some say she still lives in the river. Whether this is true or not, the locals decided to add an image of her to the city’s coat of arms, while she is also depicted in the crest of CF Villanovense.
Even though Don Benito and Villanueva de la Serena have their differences, the cities will unify in the future as a follow-up to the current cooperation. The idea was proposed in 2021 by both mayors and was received well by most of the population. This was illustrated by an official vote in 2022, in which an absolute majority voted in favor of the fusion. The new city, which will be called Vegas Altas, will probably be created officially in 2027.
This will also be a transcendental moment in the footballing dimension of Don Benito and Villanueva de la Serena. The clubs that represent these cities will no longer battle for hegemony in the district but will have to conquer a city. Even though Villanovense and Don Benito will probably be part of the same city, both clubs have very different histories and identities.
CD Don Benito
Club Deportivo Don Benito was founded in 1928 and quickly became the representative of the homonymous city. The calabazones debuted in the Tercera División in the 50s, but really became a regular in this division by the 70s. They have never been relegated to the lower amateur leagues again, and even reached the Segunda División B in 1988.
Don Benito immediately returned to the Tercera División and would play here almost every year until they achieved their fourth promotion in 2018. The dombenitenses turned into one of the strongest Extremaduran teams and maintained the division until 2023.
CF Villanovense
The first club from Villanueva de la Serena that reached the Tercera División was CD Villanovense in the 50s. The club lived a similar life to Don Benito’s and entered the Segunda División B in 1991, just three years later than its rival. However, CD Villanovense appeared to be in an unmountable debt and was dissolved in 1992.
CD Villanovense’s replacement would be Club de Fútbol Villanovense, which would quickly return to the Tercera División. In the 21st century, Villanovense played around the same number of seasons in the Segunda División B as the Tercera División, thus outperforming Don Benito.
The best season of the greens was 2016-17 when they were the best team in the entire region. The villanos ended third and qualified for their second-ever playoffs for promotion to the second tier. Unfortunately, Villanovense was paired with a historic team like Racing de Santander and fell to the Cantabrians. Still, the locals were very proud of their team’s accomplishment.
A fierce yet healthy rivalry
Even though the red-and-whites from Don Benito and the greens from Villanueva de la Serena have their differences, the derbi de las Vegas Altas is known as a friendly and calm derby. For instance, there are never any fights between supporters or players, there is no tension between the directors of both clubs, and the clubs always come up with humoristic posters when a new derby is coming up.
The derby’s future
The future of the derby between Don Benito and Villanovense looks different than any past, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, Don Benito and Villanueva de la Serena will probably become one city by 2027, transforming the derby’s narrative from a rivalry between cities to one between districts. Secondly, Don Benito suffered a painful relegation to the Tercera Federación in 2023, while Villanovense was able to stay up in the Segunda Federación. This does not only mean that Villanovense plays in a higher league than Don Benito for the first time since 2017-18 but also that the Extremedurans will not play against each other after three consecutive seasons coinciding in competition.
We hope that the calabazones quickly find their way up and can go into battle with the villanovenses again. And there’s enough reason to hold that hope, considering that, even though one team sometimes outperforms the other, they usually find their way back to each other after a short while.
SOURCES
- https://espanafascinante.com/lugares/vecino-peculiar-don-benito/
- http://lafutbolteca.com/club-deportivo-don-benito/
- https://espanaestadios.com/2018/09/20/don-benito-estadio-vicente-sanz/
- Borchers, L. (2021). GOLAZO. Self-published.
- Borchers, L. (2022). CARA O CRUZ. Self-published.
Modest Spanish Football 
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