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A brace by Donyell Malen guided the home side closer to direct advancement for the last 16 of the Europa League against a backdrop of crowd violence by Young Boys supporters.

The Netherlands striker is exemplifying Villa’s improved squad depth, however this tenth victory in 12 games was marred by visiting fans ripping up stadium seating, throwing missiles at stewards and home team athletes, and fighting with officers.

Beginning of the current season, no club has won more European games at home (13 from 15) than the Villa squad. The Villa manager looks a good bet to win this competition for a fifth time.

Game Summary and Incident Particulars

Young Boys fans had contributed to the initially positive mood 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, although what followed each of the first-half goals was inexcusable by all measures.

Under circumstances similar to other disturbances with their fans in the recent past, the Young Boys ultras reacted to Malen’s headed goal in the 27th minute by throwing containers at the celebrating Villa players, with the scorer getting a facial injury.

The Swiss club had been fined €28,250 by Uefa and ordered to pay City compensation for destroying stadium facilities in their European top-tier visit in a previous season. They were also fined about €18,000 last season for the deployment of flares in their heated Champions League fixture.

Worsening of Trouble

But the trouble got worse after Malen doubled the lead moments prior to the break. While the scorer smiled on doing a knee-slide in the vicinity of the travelling fans, the fans reacted by tearing up seats to hurl alongside further projectiles and liquid at the growing numbers of security personnel.

Clashes erupted with police even as the visiting captain, the Young Boys captain, approached to plead for peace from his club's fans. No fewer than two disruptors were escorted away by officers. There was a lengthy delay before play could recommence and the period concluded.

Away supporters confront police and stewards during a eventful opening period.

On-Field Display

It had at least been a very satisfactory half on the field for the hosts as they chased a seventh straight victory at their ground. Malen, who had a prompt influence when substituted during the break last weekend, was chosen to play at centre-forward, one of seven changes to Emery’s starting lineup.

He capitalized fully of his chance, sharp and speedy for all of his hour on the pitch. Marvin Keller had been forced to save his brilliant 25-yard shot in the fourth minute, and two teammates nearly scored prior to the Dutchman nodded home the delivery from a teammate. Villa were utterly controlling that eight players were part of the move.

The move for the second goal was slightly simpler but no less pleasing to watch. Morgan Rogers played a superb through pass for the striker to collect effortlessly through the channel before he turned past a defender and smashed in his sixth strike of the campaign.

Post-Incident and Finish

Perhaps the scorer should not have celebrated in the visiting supporters’ direction, but the supporter misconduct was utterly unjustifiable as it was extreme.

There was a subdued mood in the subsequent period as the Young Boys fans, almost to a man wearing dark attire, refrained from singing. Jadon Sancho had a shot saved, and a Villa player was correctly given offside before providing an assist for a simple finish.

But as Villa made substitutions on the sixty-minute point, allowing four of their main players extra time ahead of the derby with Wolves, the visiting fans resumed their noise. “We forgot that you were here,” came the home supporters’ riposte.

As the visitors did first get the ball in the Villa net, a forward slotting home a delivery, there was a protracted video review until the score was ruled out for an offside in the preceding action. The assistant referee on the near touchline had shuffled up his line up the field and distanced from the Young Boys supporters when the decision was given.

During added time, though, Joël Monteiro did crack home a consolation goal, after a cross-field ball, and this time VAR could not deny Young Boys their moment of celebration.

Following the context to the last Europa League game at this venue, Villa will head to Basel next month anticipating a calm trip and the victory that should safeguard their passage into the next round of the tournament.