🔗 Share this article

A brace by Donyell Malen guided Aston Villa toward automatic qualification for the last 16 of the European competition against a backdrop of crowd violence from Young Boys supporters.

Dutch forward showcased the team's greater strength in depth, but this 10th win in 12 games was marred by away supporters destroying stadium seating, throwing objects at security and Villa players, and fighting with police.

Beginning of the current season, no club has secured more continental games at home (thirteen out of fifteen) than Unai Emery’s side. Emery looks a good bet to win this competition for a record fifth occasion.

Game Summary and Disturbance Particulars

Young Boys fans had helped dictate the initially positive mood prior to Malen’s first goal. Their orchestrated clapping, drumming, pogoing and chanting lent the afternoon start a feeling of a continental occasion, although what followed each of the early scores was unacceptable by any standards.

In scenes similar to past incidents involving their supporters in the past two years, the visiting hardcore fans responded to Malen’s headed goal in the 27th minute by throwing plastic cups at the celebrating Villa players, with the goalscorer suffering a cut to the head.

Young Boys had been fined a substantial sum by Uefa and ordered to pay City compensation for destroying stadium facilities in their European top-tier match just over two years ago. They were also further penalized last season for the use of pyrotechnics in their volatile Champions League fixture.

Escalation of Unrest

However, the situation got worse following the second goal three minutes prior to the break. As the Dutch forward smiled on celebrating with a slide in the general direction of the away supporters, they responded by tearing up seats to throw in addition to further projectiles and fluids at the increased presence of police and stewards.

Clashes erupted with law enforcement even as Loris Benito, team leader, went over to plead for peace from his team’s supporters. At least two trouble-makers were escorted away by police. There was a lengthy delay until the match resumed and the half be completed.

Young Boys fans confront police and stewards during a eventful first half.

On-Field Performance

It had at least been a highly positive half on the field for Villa as they pursued a seventh successive victory at their ground. Malen, who had a prompt influence when substituted as a half-time substitute in a previous match, was chosen to lead the attack, one of multiple rotations to the team sheet.

How he made the most of his chance, sharp and speedy for the duration in play. The opposition keeper had been forced to save his brilliant long-range effort in the fourth minute, and both other players nearly scored prior to the Dutchman nodded home a cross from a teammate. The home side were utterly controlling that eight players were part of the move.

The move for the next score was slightly simpler but equally pleasing to watch. A teammate delivered an excellent assist for Malen to take in his stride through the channel after which he cut back inside his marker and drilled home his sixth strike of the campaign.

Post-Incident and Finish

Perhaps Malen should not have celebrated in the away fans' area, but the crowd violence was as unforgivable as it was extreme.

A subdued mood in the subsequent period as the Young Boys fans, almost to a man dressed in black, refrained from singing. A visiting attacker had a attempt stopped, and Rogers was rightly flagged when providing an assist for a simple finish.

When the hosts rang the changes on the hour mark, allowing key individuals additional rest before the derby with Wolves, the away contingent sprang back into voice. “We forgot that you were here,” came the home supporters’ riposte.

When Young Boys eventually put the ball in the goal, Chris Bedia sidefooting in a delivery, there was a long VAR delay before the score was ruled out for an offside in the preceding action. The assistant referee on the near touchline had moved position up the field and distanced from the away fans when the verdict was announced.

During added time, though, Joël Monteiro did crack home a consolation goal, following a diagonal pass, and this time video review upheld the visitors their brief jubilation.

Following the context to the last Europa League game at this venue, Villa will head to Basel in December anticipating a calm trip and the three points that ought to secure their passage into the next round of the tournament.