🔗 Share this article

A brace from Donyell Malen propelled the home side closer to automatic advancement into the knockout stage of the Europa League in a match overshadowed of fan disturbances by visiting supporters.

The Netherlands forward is exemplifying the team's greater strength in depth, but this 10th win in 12 games was tainted by visiting fans ripping up seats, throwing objects at security and Villa players, and fighting with police.

Since the start of the current season, no club has secured more continental games at their own stadium (thirteen out of fifteen) than Unai Emery’s side. Emery looks a good bet to claim the trophy for a record fifth occasion.

Match Overview and Disturbance Particulars

Young Boys fans had contributed to the early vibrant mood before the opening strike. Their coordinated clapping, drumming, pogoing and chanting had helped give the afternoon start a feeling of a European night, yet the events after both first-half goals was unacceptable by all measures.

Under circumstances similar to other disturbances with their fans in the past two years, the Young Boys ultras reacted to Malen’s headed goal in the 27th minute by throwing containers at the jubilant home team, with the goalscorer getting a cut to the head.

Young Boys had been fined €28,250 by European football's governing body and instructed to cover damages for destroying stadium facilities in their European top-tier match just over two years ago. Additionally, they were fined about €18,000 the prior campaign for the use of pyrotechnics in their volatile European visit.

Escalation of Trouble

But the trouble got worse after the second goal three minutes prior to the break. While the scorer grinned celebrating with a slide in the general direction of the travelling fans, they responded by tearing up seats to throw in addition to further projectiles and fluids at the increased presence of police and stewards.

Clashes erupted with law enforcement even as the visiting captain, the Young Boys captain, went over to appeal for calm from his club's fans. No fewer than two trouble-makers were removed by police. Play experienced a lengthy delay until the match resumed and the period concluded.

Young Boys fans clash with authorities during a controversial first half.

Match Performance

It had at least been a very satisfactory half on the field for the hosts as they chased a seventh successive victory at their ground. Malen, who made such an immediate impact when substituted during the break in a previous match, was chosen to lead the attack, one of multiple rotations to Emery’s starting lineup.

He capitalized fully of his opportunity, sharp and speedy for the duration on the pitch. The opposition keeper had had to tip over his brilliant 25-yard shot in the fourth minute, and both teammates came close before the Dutchman nodded home the delivery from a teammate. Villa were utterly controlling that multiple contributors were part of the move.

The play for the next score was somewhat more direct but equally aesthetically pleasing. Morgan Rogers played a superb assist for the striker to collect effortlessly through the channel after which he cut back inside a defender and smashed in his sixth strike of the season.

Post-Incident and Finish

Maybe the scorer should not have celebrated in the visiting supporters’ direction, but the supporter misconduct was as unforgivable as it was severe.

There was a subdued mood over the next half hour as the away supporters, almost to a man wearing dark attire, refrained from singing. Jadon Sancho had a attempt stopped, and a Villa player was correctly given offside when he set Malen up for a tap-in.

When the hosts made substitutions on the sixty-minute point, 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,” came the home supporters’ riposte.

When Young Boys eventually put the ball in the goal, a forward slotting home a cross, there was a long VAR delay until the goal was disallowed for a positional infringement in the preceding action. The assistant referee on that side had moved position up the field and away from the Young Boys supporters when the verdict was announced.

In stoppage time, however, Joël Monteiro did crack home a late reply, following a diagonal pass, 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 in December hoping for a calm trip and the three points that should safeguard their progress to the last 16 of the competition.