🔗 Share this article

A brace by Donyell Malen propelled Aston Villa closer to direct qualification for the last 16 of the European competition against a backdrop of crowd violence from Young Boys supporters.

Dutch striker showcased Villa’s greater strength in depth, however this tenth victory in 12 games was tainted by away supporters ripping up seats, hurling objects at stewards and home team athletes, and fighting with police.

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

Match Overview and Disturbance Particulars

The Swiss supporters had contributed to the early vibrant atmosphere before the opening strike. Their coordinated clapping, drumming, pogoing and chanting had helped give the afternoon start a feeling of a European night, although what followed both first-half goals was inexcusable by all measures.

In scenes reminiscent of other disturbances involving their supporters in the past two years, the Young Boys ultras responded to the first goal in the first half by launching containers at the celebrating home team, with the scorer getting a facial injury.

Young Boys had been penalized a substantial sum by European football's governing body and instructed to cover damages for damaging seats and toilet blocks in their Champions League match just over two years ago. They were also further penalized the prior campaign for the deployment of flares in their heated Champions League visit.

Escalation of Unrest

However, the situation escalated following the second goal three minutes before half-time. As the Dutch forward grinned doing a knee-slide in the vicinity of the away supporters, they responded by ripping out chairs to throw alongside more plastic cups and fluids at the growing numbers of police and stewards.

Clashes erupted with police even as Loris Benito, the Young Boys captain, went over to plead for peace from his club's fans. At least two disruptors were escorted away by police. There was a five-minute holdup until the match resumed and the period concluded.

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

Match Performance

It had at least been a highly positive period on the field for Villa as they pursued a seventh straight victory at their ground. The forward, who had a prompt influence 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 opportunity, incisive and pacy for all of his hour in play. Marvin Keller had been forced to save his superb long-range effort in the fourth minute, and both other players came close before the Dutchman nodded home the delivery from midfield. The home side were so dominant that multiple contributors were part of the move.

The move for the second goal was somewhat more direct but equally pleasing to watch. Morgan Rogers played a superb through pass for Malen to take in his stride down the inside-left channel before he cut back inside a defender and drilled home his sixth strike of the season.

Post-Incident and Conclusion

Maybe Malen ought to have avoided celebrating in the away fans' area, but the crowd violence was utterly unjustifiable as it was extreme.

There was a quieter atmosphere over the next half hour as the away supporters, almost to a man dressed in black, ceased their chants. A visiting attacker had a attempt stopped, and Rogers was correctly given offside before he set Malen up for a tap-in.

But as the hosts rang the changes on the hour mark, offering four of their main players additional rest ahead of the local clash, the away contingent sprang back into voice. “We forgot that you were here,” came the home supporters’ riposte.

As the visitors eventually put the ball in the Villa net, a forward sidefooting in a delivery, 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 shuffled up his line up the field and away from the Young Boys supporters by the time the verdict was announced.

During added time, though, a substitute scored a consolation goal, after a cross-field ball, and on this occasion video review upheld the visitors their moment of celebration.

After all the context to the last Europa League game at this venue, the team will head to Basel next month anticipating a calm trip and the three points that ought to secure their passage into the next round of the competition.