🔗 Share this article

A brace from the Dutch striker propelled Aston Villa closer to automatic advancement into the knockout stage of the European competition against a backdrop of crowd violence from visiting supporters.

The Netherlands striker is exemplifying Villa’s improved strength in depth, however this 10th win in 12 games was tainted by visiting fans ripping up seats, throwing objects at stewards and Villa players, and clashing with police.

Since the start of the current season, no team has won more continental matches at their own stadium (thirteen out of fifteen) than the Villa squad. The Villa manager appears likely to win this competition for a record fifth occasion.

Game Overview and Disturbance Details

Young Boys supporters had helped dictate the initially positive mood prior to the opening strike. Their coordinated chants, drumbeats, and synchronized movements lent the early kick-off a feeling of a European night, yet what followed both first-half goals was unacceptable by all measures.

In scenes similar to past incidents with their fans in the past two years, the visiting hardcore fans responded to Malen’s headed goal in the first half by throwing containers at the jubilant Villa players, with the goalscorer getting a cut to the head.

The Swiss club had been penalized €28,250 by European football's governing body and ordered to cover damages for destroying stadium facilities in their Champions League match in a previous season. They were also fined about €18,000 last season for the use of pyrotechnics in their volatile Champions League fixture.

Escalation of Trouble

However, the situation got worse after the second goal moments prior to the break. While the scorer smiled on celebrating with a slide in the general direction of the travelling fans, they responded by tearing up chairs to hurl alongside further projectiles and liquid at the increased presence of police and stewards.

Clashes erupted with police while Loris Benito, the Young Boys captain, approached to plead for peace from his club's fans. No fewer than two trouble-makers were removed by officers. Play experienced a five-minute holdup until the match resumed and the half be completed.

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

On-Field Performance

Nonetheless, it was been a highly positive period in sporting terms for Villa as they chased a seventh successive victory at their ground. 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, incisive and pacy for all of his hour on the pitch. Marvin Keller had been forced to save his superb long-range effort in the fourth minute, and both other players nearly scored prior to the Dutchman nodded home a cross from a teammate. The home side were utterly controlling that multiple contributors were part of the move.

The move for the second goal was slightly simpler but equally pleasing to watch. Morgan Rogers played a superb assist 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 Finish

Perhaps Malen ought to have avoided celebrating in the visiting supporters’ direction, but the supporter misconduct was as unforgivable as it was severe.

A quieter atmosphere over the next half hour as the away supporters, largely wearing dark attire, refrained from singing. Jadon Sancho had a attempt stopped, and Rogers was rightly flagged when he set Malen up for a simple finish.

When the hosts made substitutions on the hour mark, allowing four of their main players extra time before the local clash, the visiting fans 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 goal, a forward slotting home a delivery, there was a protracted video review before the score was ruled out for a positional infringement in the preceding action. The linesman on the near touchline had moved position towards halfway and distanced from the away fans when the decision was given.

In stoppage time, however, a substitute scored a consolation goal, after a cross-field ball, and on this occasion VAR could not deny the visitors their brief jubilation.

Following the context to the previous European fixture at this venue, Villa will travel to Switzerland next month anticipating a peaceful visit and the three points that ought to secure their progress to the next round of the tournament.