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A brace by Donyell Malen guided Aston Villa closer to automatic qualification for the last 16 of the European competition in a match overshadowed of crowd violence by Young Boys supporters.

The Netherlands striker is exemplifying the team's greater strength in depth, but this 10th win in 12 games was marred by visiting fans destroying stadium seating, throwing objects at security and Villa players, and clashing with officers.

Beginning of the current season, no team has won more continental matches at their own stadium (13 from 15) than Unai Emery’s side. The Villa manager looks a good bet to win this competition for a fifth time.

Match Summary and Disturbance Details

Young Boys supporters had helped dictate the early vibrant atmosphere before Malen’s first goal. Their orchestrated clapping, drumming, pogoing and chanting had helped give the afternoon start a sense of a continental occasion, yet the events after both early scores was inexcusable by all measures.

Under circumstances similar to other disturbances involving their supporters in the past two years, the visiting hardcore fans reacted to the first goal in the 27th minute by throwing containers at the jubilant Villa players, with the scorer suffering a facial injury.

The Swiss club 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 Champions League match just over two years ago. They were also fined about €18,000 last season for the use of pyrotechnics in their volatile European visit.

Worsening of Trouble

But the trouble escalated following Malen doubled the lead three minutes before half-time. While the scorer smiled on celebrating with a slide in the vicinity of the travelling fans, the fans reacted by ripping out chairs to throw alongside more plastic cups and liquid at the growing numbers of security personnel.

Fighting broke out with police while the visiting captain, the Young Boys captain, went over to appeal for calm from his team’s supporters. No fewer than two trouble-makers were removed by officers. There was a lengthy delay until play could recommence and the half be completed.

Away supporters confront authorities during a eventful opening period.

Match Performance

Nonetheless, it was been a very satisfactory half on the field for Villa as they chased a seventh straight victory at their ground. The forward, who made such an immediate impact when coming on as a half-time substitute last weekend, was chosen to play at centre-forward, one of multiple rotations to the team sheet.

He capitalized fully of his opportunity, incisive and pacy for the duration in play. The opposition keeper had been forced to save his brilliant 25-yard shot in the fourth minute, and both teammates came close prior to the Dutchman nodded home a cross from midfield. Villa were so dominant that eight players were part of the move.

The move for the next score was somewhat more direct but no less aesthetically pleasing. A teammate delivered an excellent assist for Malen to collect effortlessly through the channel before he cut back inside his marker and drilled home his sixth goal of the campaign.

Post-Incident and Conclusion

Perhaps the scorer ought to have avoided celebrating in the visiting supporters’ direction, but the crowd violence was as unforgivable as it was severe.

There was a subdued mood over the next half hour as the away supporters, largely dressed in black, ceased their chants. Jadon Sancho had a attempt stopped, and Rogers was correctly given offside before providing an assist for a tap-in.

But as the hosts made substitutions on the hour mark, 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 slotting home a delivery, there was a protracted video review before the goal was disallowed for an offside in the buildup. The linesman on the near touchline had moved position up the field and distanced from the away fans by the time the verdict was announced.

In stoppage time, though, Joël Monteiro did crack home a consolation goal, following a cross-field ball, and this time video review upheld Young Boys their brief jubilation.

Following the political backdrop to the previous European fixture here, the team will head to Basel in December anticipating a calm trip and the victory that should safeguard their passage into the next round of the tournament.