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Two goals from the Dutch striker propelled Aston Villa toward direct advancement for the last 16 of the Europa League against a backdrop of fan disturbances from Young Boys supporters.

The Netherlands striker is exemplifying the team's improved strength in depth, but this 10th win in twelve matches was marred by visiting fans destroying seats, hurling objects at security and Villa players, and clashing with officers.

Since the start of the current season, no team has won more continental matches at their own stadium (13 from 15) than the Villa squad. The Villa manager looks a good bet to claim the trophy for a fifth time.

Match Summary and Disturbance Particulars

The Swiss supporters had contributed to the initially positive mood before the opening strike. Their coordinated clapping, drumming, pogoing and chanting had helped give the afternoon start a sense of a continental occasion, yet the events after each of the first-half goals was unacceptable by all measures.

In scenes reminiscent of past incidents with their fans in the recent past, the visiting hardcore fans responded to Malen’s headed goal in the first half by launching plastic cups at the celebrating Villa players, with the goalscorer getting a cut to the head.

Young Boys had been penalized a substantial sum by European football's governing body and ordered to cover damages for destroying stadium facilities in their Champions League match just over two years ago. Additionally, they were further penalized last season for the use of pyrotechnics in their volatile Champions League fixture.

Escalation of Trouble

But the trouble escalated after the second goal three minutes prior to the break. As the Dutch forward smiled on doing a knee-slide in the vicinity of the travelling fans, they responded by tearing up chairs to hurl in addition to more plastic cups and fluids at the increased presence of police and stewards.

Fighting broke out with police while the visiting captain, team leader, went over to appeal for calm from his team’s supporters. No fewer than two disruptors were escorted away by officers. Play experienced a five-minute holdup before the match resumed and the half be completed.

Away supporters confront police and stewards during a eventful first half.

Match Performance

Nonetheless, it was been a highly positive period on the field for Villa as they pursued a seventh successive home win. Malen, who made such an immediate impact when substituted as a half-time substitute in a previous match, was selected to play at centre-forward, one of multiple rotations to the team sheet.

How he made the most of his opportunity, incisive and pacy for the duration in play. The opposition keeper had been forced to save his brilliant 25-yard shot in the early stages, and both teammates nearly scored before Malen headed in a cross from midfield. Villa were utterly controlling that eight players were part of the move.

The play for the second goal was slightly simpler but equally pleasing to watch. Morgan Rogers played a superb assist for Malen to take in his stride through the channel before he turned past a defender and smashed in his sixth strike of the campaign.

Aftermath and Finish

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

There was a subdued mood over the next half hour as the Young Boys fans, almost to a man dressed in black, refrained from singing. Jadon Sancho had a shot saved, and a Villa player was correctly given offside before he set Malen up for a simple finish.

When the hosts made substitutions on the sixty-minute point, allowing key individuals 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 sidefooting in a delivery, there was a long VAR delay until the goal was disallowed for an offside in the preceding action. The linesman on that side had shuffled up his line up the field and distanced from the Young Boys supporters when the decision was given.

In stoppage time, however, Joël Monteiro did crack home a late reply, after a diagonal pass, and on this occasion video review upheld Young Boys their brief jubilation.

After all the political backdrop to the previous European fixture at this venue, Villa will head to Basel in December hoping for a peaceful visit and the victory that ought to secure their passage into the next round of the tournament.