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Two goals from Donyell Malen guided Aston Villa toward automatic advancement into the knockout stage of the European competition against a backdrop of fan disturbances by Young Boys supporters.

Dutch striker is exemplifying the team's improved strength in depth, but this tenth victory in twelve matches was marred by visiting fans ripping up stadium seating, hurling objects at stewards and home team athletes, and clashing with police.

Beginning of the current season, no club has won more continental games at home (thirteen out of fifteen) than Unai Emery’s side. Emery appears likely to claim the trophy for a record fifth occasion.

Match Overview and Disturbance Particulars

The Swiss supporters had contributed to the early vibrant 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 European night, although the events after each of the first-half goals was inexcusable by any standards.

Under circumstances similar to other disturbances with their fans in the past two years, the visiting hardcore fans reacted to Malen’s headed goal in the 27th minute by throwing containers at the celebrating home team, with the scorer suffering a cut to the head.

Young Boys had been penalized €28,250 by Uefa and ordered to cover damages for damaging seats and toilet blocks in their Champions League match just over two years ago. They were also fined about €18,000 the prior campaign for the use of pyrotechnics in their volatile European fixture.

Escalation of Trouble

But the trouble got worse following Malen doubled the lead three minutes prior to the break. While the scorer smiled on celebrating with a slide in the general direction of the travelling fans, they responded by ripping out chairs to throw in addition to further projectiles and fluids at the growing numbers of police and stewards.

Fighting broke out with law enforcement while Loris Benito, team leader, approached to appeal for calm from his club's fans. At least two disruptors were escorted away by police. There was a lengthy delay until the match resumed and the period concluded.

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

On-Field Display

It had at least been a very satisfactory period in sporting terms 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, among seven changes to Emery’s starting lineup.

He capitalized fully of his chance, sharp and speedy for all of his hour in play. The opposition keeper had been forced to save his superb 25-yard shot in the fourth minute, and both teammates nearly scored prior to Malen headed in the delivery from a teammate. Villa were utterly controlling that eight players were involved in the buildup.

The play for the second goal was somewhat more direct but equally pleasing to watch. Morgan Rogers played a superb assist for Malen to take in his stride down the inside-left channel before he turned past his marker and drilled home his sixth goal of the campaign.

Aftermath and Finish

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

There was a quieter atmosphere in the subsequent period as the Young Boys fans, largely dressed in black, ceased their chants. A visiting attacker had a attempt stopped, and a Villa player was correctly given offside before he set Malen up for a tap-in.

But as Villa rang the changes on the hour mark, allowing four of their main players extra time ahead of the derby with Wolves, the visiting fans sprang back into voice. “We forgot that you were here,” was the home crowd's retort.

When Young Boys eventually put the ball in the goal, Chris Bedia sidefooting in a cross, there was a long VAR delay until the score was ruled out for a positional infringement in the buildup. The assistant referee on that side had shuffled up his line up the field and distanced from the away fans when the verdict was announced.

During added time, however, a substitute did crack home a late reply, after a diagonal pass, and this time VAR could not deny Young Boys their moment of celebration.

Following the political backdrop to the previous European fixture at this venue, Villa will head to Basel next month anticipating a calm trip and the victory that ought to secure their passage into the next round of the competition.