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Two goals from the Dutch striker guided Aston Villa toward direct advancement for the last 16 of the Europa League in a match overshadowed of crowd violence by Young Boys supporters.

Dutch striker showcased Villa’s improved squad depth, however this tenth victory in 12 games was tainted by away supporters ripping up stadium seating, throwing objects at stewards and home team athletes, and fighting with police.

Beginning of the current season, no team has won more continental matches at home (13 from 15) than the Villa squad. Emery looks a good bet to claim the trophy for a record fifth occasion.

Game Summary and Disturbance Details

The Swiss fans had contributed to the early vibrant atmosphere prior to Malen’s first goal. Their orchestrated clapping, drumming, pogoing and chanting had helped give the early kick-off a sense of a continental occasion, yet what followed each of the first-half goals was inexcusable by all measures.

In scenes reminiscent of past incidents with their fans in the recent past, the Young Boys ultras reacted to the first goal in the 27th minute by throwing containers at the celebrating home team, with the scorer suffering a facial injury.

Young Boys had been fined a substantial sum by European football's governing body and ordered to pay City compensation for destroying seats and toilet blocks in their Champions League match just over two years ago. Additionally, they were further penalized last season for the deployment of flares in their volatile Champions League fixture.

Escalation of Trouble

But the trouble got worse following Malen doubled the lead moments before half-time. As the Dutch forward grinned doing a knee-slide in the general direction of the travelling fans, the fans reacted by tearing up seats to throw alongside more plastic cups and fluids at the increased presence of security personnel.

Fighting broke out with police while the visiting captain, the Young Boys captain, went over to appeal for calm from his team’s supporters. At least two trouble-makers were escorted away by police. There was a lengthy delay before the match resumed and the half be completed.

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

Match Display

Nonetheless, it was been a highly positive half in sporting terms for the hosts as they pursued a seventh successive victory at their ground. Malen, who had a prompt influence when coming on as a half-time substitute in a previous match, was selected to play at centre-forward, among multiple rotations to Emery’s starting lineup.

He capitalized fully of his opportunity, sharp and speedy for the duration in play. The opposition keeper had been forced to save his brilliant 25-yard shot in the fourth minute, and both teammates nearly scored prior to the Dutchman nodded home a cross from midfield. Villa were utterly controlling that eight players were part of the move.

The play for the next score was somewhat more direct but equally pleasing to watch. A teammate played a superb through pass for Malen to collect effortlessly through the channel after which he cut back inside a defender and drilled home his sixth goal of the campaign.

Post-Incident and Conclusion

Perhaps Malen should not have celebrated in the visiting supporters’ direction, but the crowd violence was as unforgivable as it was severe.

There was a quieter atmosphere in the subsequent period as the away supporters, largely dressed in black, refrained from singing. A visiting attacker had a shot saved, and a Villa player was rightly flagged when providing an assist for a simple finish.

But as the hosts rang the changes on the sixty-minute point, allowing key individuals additional rest ahead of the local clash, the away contingent sprang back into voice. “We forgot that you were here,” was the home crowd's retort.

When Young Boys did first get the ball in the Villa net, Chris Bedia slotting home a delivery, there was a long VAR delay before the goal was disallowed for a positional infringement in the buildup. The assistant referee on that side had moved position up the field and distanced from the away fans when the verdict was announced.

In stoppage time, however, Joël Monteiro did crack home a consolation goal, after a diagonal pass, and this time VAR could not deny the visitors their brief jubilation.

Following the context to the last Europa League game here, the team will travel to Switzerland in December anticipating a calm trip and the three points that ought to secure their passage into the next round of the competition.