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A brace from the Dutch striker propelled Aston Villa closer to direct advancement into the knockout stage of the Europa League in a match overshadowed of crowd violence by visiting supporters.

Dutch forward is exemplifying Villa’s greater squad depth, however this tenth victory in 12 games was tainted by away supporters ripping up stadium seating, hurling missiles at stewards and Villa players, and clashing with police.

Beginning of the current season, no team has won more European matches at their own stadium (13 from 15) than the Villa squad. The Villa manager appears likely to win this competition for a fifth time.

Match Summary and Disturbance Details

Young Boys fans had contributed to the early vibrant mood prior to Malen’s first goal. Their orchestrated chants, drumbeats, and synchronized movements had helped give the afternoon start a sense of a continental occasion, although what followed each of the early scores was inexcusable by any standards.

Under circumstances reminiscent of other disturbances involving their supporters in the recent past, the Young Boys ultras reacted to Malen’s headed goal in the 27th minute by throwing plastic cups at the jubilant Villa players, with the goalscorer suffering a facial injury.

Young Boys had been fined €28,250 by European football's governing body and instructed to pay City compensation for destroying seats and toilet blocks in their European top-tier visit just over two years ago. They were also further penalized the prior campaign for the use of pyrotechnics in their volatile Champions League visit.

Worsening of Unrest

However, the situation got worse after the second goal three minutes before half-time. As the Dutch forward smiled on celebrating with a slide in the general direction of the away supporters, the fans reacted by tearing up seats to hurl alongside more plastic cups and liquid at the growing numbers of security personnel.

Clashes erupted with law enforcement even as the visiting captain, team leader, approached to appeal for calm from his team’s supporters. At least two trouble-makers were removed by officers. Play experienced a five-minute holdup before the match resumed and the half be completed.

Away supporters clash with authorities during a eventful opening period.

Match Performance

It had at least been a highly positive period on the field for the hosts as they chased a seventh straight victory at their ground. The forward, who had a prompt influence when coming on as a half-time substitute in a previous match, was chosen to lead the attack, one of multiple rotations to the team sheet.

How he made the most of his chance, incisive and pacy for the duration on the pitch. Marvin Keller had had to tip over his brilliant long-range effort in the early stages, and both teammates came close prior to the Dutchman nodded home a cross from a teammate. Villa were so dominant that multiple contributors were involved in the buildup.

The play for the next score was somewhat more direct but equally pleasing to watch. A teammate played a superb assist for Malen to take in his stride down the inside-left channel after which he turned past a defender and drilled home his sixth strike of the campaign.

Aftermath and Finish

Maybe the scorer ought to have avoided celebrating in the visiting supporters’ direction, but the supporter misconduct was utterly unjustifiable as it was extreme.

A quieter atmosphere over the next half hour as the away supporters, largely wearing dark attire, ceased their chants. Jadon Sancho had a shot saved, and a Villa player was correctly given offside before providing an assist for a tap-in.

But as Villa rang the changes on the sixty-minute point, allowing four of their main players extra time ahead of the local clash, 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, Chris Bedia sidefooting in a delivery, there was a long VAR delay until the goal was disallowed for a positional infringement in the buildup. The linesman 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, however, a substitute did crack home a consolation goal, following a cross-field ball, and on this occasion video review upheld the visitors their brief jubilation.

After all the context to the last Europa League game here, the team will travel to Switzerland next month hoping for a calm trip and the three points that should safeguard their progress to the last 16 of the tournament.