🔗 Share this article

Two goals by the Dutch striker guided Aston Villa closer to direct qualification into the knockout stage of the European competition against a backdrop of fan disturbances by Young Boys supporters.

Dutch forward is exemplifying Villa’s greater strength in depth, but this 10th win in 12 games was tainted by away supporters ripping up stadium seating, throwing missiles at stewards and home team athletes, and clashing with police.

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

Match Summary and Incident Details

The Swiss supporters 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, yet the events after both early scores was inexcusable by all measures.

In scenes reminiscent of other disturbances with their fans in the past two years, the Young Boys ultras responded to the first goal in the first half by launching containers at the jubilant Villa players, with the scorer suffering a facial injury.

The Swiss club had been penalized €28,250 by European football's governing body and ordered to pay City compensation for destroying seats and toilet blocks in their Champions League visit just over two years ago. Additionally, they were further penalized last season for the deployment of flares in their volatile Champions League fixture.

Worsening of Trouble

However, the situation escalated after Malen doubled the lead three minutes prior to the break. As the Dutch forward grinned celebrating with a slide in the general direction of the travelling fans, the fans reacted by tearing up chairs to throw in addition to more plastic cups and liquid at the growing numbers of security personnel.

Clashes erupted with police while the visiting captain, team leader, approached to appeal for calm from his team’s supporters. No fewer than two trouble-makers were escorted away by police. Play experienced a lengthy delay before the match resumed and the period concluded.

Away supporters clash with police and stewards during a controversial first half.

On-Field Display

Nonetheless, it was been a very satisfactory half in sporting terms for Villa as they chased a seventh successive home win. Malen, who made such an immediate impact when substituted as a half-time substitute last weekend, was selected to play at centre-forward, among seven changes to the team sheet.

He capitalized fully of his chance, sharp and speedy for all of his hour on the pitch. The opposition keeper had had to tip over his superb 25-yard shot in the fourth minute, and two teammates nearly scored before Malen headed in the delivery from midfield. Villa were utterly controlling that multiple contributors were part of the move.

The move for the second goal was slightly simpler but equally aesthetically pleasing. Morgan Rogers delivered an excellent 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 away fans' area, but the supporter misconduct was as unforgivable as it was severe.

There was a quieter atmosphere in the subsequent period as the Young Boys fans, almost to a man wearing dark attire, ceased their chants. A visiting attacker had a attempt stopped, and Rogers was rightly flagged when he set Malen up for a simple finish.

But as Villa made substitutions on the sixty-minute point, allowing four of their main players additional rest before the derby with Wolves, the visiting fans resumed their noise. A taunting chant was the home crowd's retort.

As the visitors did first get the ball in the goal, a forward sidefooting in a cross, there was a long VAR delay before the score was ruled out for an offside in the buildup. The linesman on that side had moved position towards halfway and distanced from the away fans when the decision was given.

In stoppage time, though, a substitute scored a consolation goal, following a diagonal pass, and this time VAR could not deny the visitors their moment of celebration.

Following the context to the previous European fixture at this venue, Villa will head to Basel next month hoping for a peaceful visit and the victory that ought to secure their passage into the next round of the competition.