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Two goals by Donyell Malen propelled Aston Villa closer to direct advancement for the last 16 of the Europa League in a match overshadowed of crowd violence from visiting supporters.

The Netherlands forward is exemplifying the team's greater squad depth, but this 10th win in twelve matches was tainted by visiting fans destroying stadium seating, hurling objects at stewards and Villa players, and fighting with police.

Since the start of the current season, no team has won more European games at home (13 from 15) than Unai Emery’s side. The Villa manager appears likely to win this competition for a record fifth occasion.

Game Summary and Disturbance Particulars

The Swiss fans had helped dictate the initially positive mood prior to Malen’s first goal. Their coordinated clapping, drumming, pogoing and chanting lent the early kick-off a sense of a continental occasion, although what followed each of the early scores was unacceptable by all measures.

In scenes reminiscent of past incidents involving their supporters in the recent past, the visiting hardcore fans reacted to Malen’s headed goal in the first half by throwing plastic cups at the celebrating home team, with the goalscorer getting a cut to the head.

Young Boys had been fined €28,250 by Uefa and instructed to pay City compensation for destroying stadium facilities in their European top-tier match in a previous season. They were also fined about €18,000 the prior campaign for the deployment of flares in their volatile European fixture.

Worsening of Unrest

But the trouble escalated following the second goal moments prior to the break. While the scorer grinned celebrating with a slide in the general direction of the away supporters, the fans reacted by ripping out seats to throw alongside more plastic cups and liquid at the growing numbers of police and stewards.

Fighting broke out with law enforcement even as Loris Benito, the Young Boys captain, approached to appeal for calm from his club's fans. No fewer than two trouble-makers were escorted away by officers. There was a five-minute holdup before the match resumed and the half be completed.

Away supporters clash with authorities during a controversial opening period.

Match Performance

Nonetheless, it was been a highly positive half in sporting terms for the hosts as they pursued a seventh successive victory at their ground. The forward, who had a prompt influence when coming on during the break last weekend, was selected to lead the attack, among multiple rotations to the team sheet.

He capitalized fully of his opportunity, sharp and speedy for all of his hour on the pitch. The opposition keeper had been forced to save his superb long-range effort in the early stages, and both other players nearly scored before Malen headed in a cross from a teammate. The home side were so dominant that multiple contributors were part of the move.

The move for the next score was slightly simpler but no less pleasing to watch. A teammate played a superb assist for the striker to take in his stride through the channel before he cut back inside his marker and drilled home his sixth goal of the campaign.

Aftermath and Finish

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

There was a subdued mood in the subsequent period as the away supporters, largely wearing dark attire, refrained from singing. A visiting attacker had a shot saved, and a Villa player was rightly flagged when providing an assist for a tap-in.

But as Villa made substitutions on the hour mark, offering four of their main players additional rest ahead of the derby with Wolves, the away contingent resumed their noise. A taunting chant came the home supporters’ riposte.

As the visitors eventually put the ball in the goal, a forward slotting home a delivery, there was a long VAR delay before the score was ruled out for a positional infringement in the buildup. The linesman on the near touchline had shuffled up his line up the field and away from the Young Boys supporters by the time the decision was given.

In stoppage time, though, Joël Monteiro scored a consolation goal, after a diagonal pass, and on this occasion video review upheld Young Boys their moment of celebration.

Following the political backdrop to the previous European fixture here, the team will travel to Switzerland next month anticipating a peaceful visit and the victory that should safeguard their passage into the next round of the tournament.