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A brace by the Dutch striker guided Aston Villa toward automatic qualification into the knockout stage of the Europa League in a match overshadowed of fan disturbances from visiting supporters.

The Netherlands striker is exemplifying the team's improved squad depth, however this 10th win in twelve matches was tainted by visiting fans destroying stadium seating, hurling missiles at security and Villa players, and clashing with police.

Beginning of the current season, no team has secured more continental games at home (thirteen out of fifteen) than the Villa squad. The Villa manager appears likely to win this competition for a fifth time.

Match Summary and Disturbance Details

Young Boys supporters had contributed to the initially positive atmosphere before the opening strike. Their orchestrated chants, drumbeats, and synchronized movements had helped give the afternoon start a feeling of a European night, although the events after each of the early scores was inexcusable by any standards.

Under circumstances reminiscent of other disturbances involving their supporters in the recent past, the visiting hardcore fans responded to the first goal in the 27th minute by launching containers at the celebrating home team, with the scorer suffering a cut to the head.

The Swiss club had been fined a substantial sum by European football's governing body and ordered to cover damages for destroying seats and toilet blocks in their Champions League match in a previous season. Additionally, they were fined about €18,000 last season for the use of pyrotechnics in their volatile Champions League fixture.

Worsening of Unrest

But the trouble got worse after Malen doubled the lead moments before half-time. While the scorer grinned celebrating with a slide in the general direction of the away supporters, they responded by ripping out seats to hurl in addition to more plastic cups and liquid at the growing numbers of security personnel.

Fighting broke out with police even as Loris Benito, the Young Boys captain, approached to plead for peace from his club's fans. At least two trouble-makers were escorted away by officers. There was a lengthy delay until the match resumed and the half be completed.

Young Boys fans confront authorities during a eventful opening period.

Match Display

It had at least been a very satisfactory period on the field for the hosts as they pursued a seventh straight victory at their ground. Malen, who made such an immediate impact when substituted during the break in a previous match, was selected to play at centre-forward, one of multiple rotations to the team sheet.

He capitalized fully of his chance, sharp and speedy for all of his hour in play. Marvin Keller had been forced to save his superb 25-yard shot in the fourth minute, and two teammates nearly scored prior to Malen headed in the delivery from a teammate. The home side were so dominant that multiple contributors were involved in the buildup.

The play for the second goal was somewhat more direct but no less pleasing to watch. A teammate played a superb through pass for the striker to collect effortlessly through the channel before he turned past his marker and drilled home his sixth goal of the campaign.

Aftermath and Conclusion

Maybe Malen should not have celebrated in the away fans' area, but the crowd violence was utterly unjustifiable as it was severe.

There was a subdued mood over the next half hour as the away supporters, largely dressed in black, refrained from singing. A visiting attacker had a shot saved, and a Villa player was correctly given offside before providing an assist for a simple finish.

But as Villa rang the changes on the sixty-minute point, allowing four of their main players additional rest ahead of the derby with Wolves, the away contingent sprang back into voice. A taunting chant was the home crowd's retort.

As the visitors did first get the ball in the goal, a forward sidefooting in a cross, there was a protracted video review until the score was ruled out for an offside in the buildup. The linesman on that side had shuffled up his line towards halfway and away from the Young Boys supporters when the verdict was announced.

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

After all the political backdrop to the last Europa League game at this venue, Villa will head to Basel next month anticipating a calm trip and the three points that should safeguard their passage into the last 16 of the tournament.