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A brace from Donyell Malen guided Aston Villa closer to automatic advancement for the last 16 of the Europa League in a match overshadowed of crowd violence by visiting supporters.

Dutch forward showcased the team's greater strength in depth, but this 10th win in twelve matches was marred by visiting fans ripping up stadium seating, hurling objects at security and Villa players, and fighting with police.

Beginning of the current season, no club has secured more European games at their own stadium (13 from 15) than the Villa squad. Emery appears likely to claim the trophy for a fifth time.

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 sense of a European night, yet the events after each of the first-half goals was inexcusable by all measures.

Under circumstances reminiscent of other disturbances involving their supporters in the recent past, the Young Boys ultras responded to the first goal in the 27th minute by throwing plastic cups at the jubilant Villa players, with the scorer getting a facial injury.

The Swiss club had been fined a substantial sum by European football's governing body and ordered to cover damages for destroying stadium facilities in their European top-tier visit just over two years ago. Additionally, they were fined about €18,000 the prior campaign for the use of pyrotechnics in their volatile European fixture.

Escalation of Trouble

However, the situation escalated after Malen doubled the lead moments before half-time. As the Dutch forward smiled on celebrating with a slide in the vicinity of the travelling fans, they responded by ripping out chairs to hurl alongside further projectiles and liquid at the increased presence of security personnel.

Fighting broke out with law enforcement while the visiting captain, team leader, went over to appeal for calm from his club's fans. At least two trouble-makers were escorted away by police. There was a lengthy delay until the match resumed and the half be completed.

Young Boys fans confront police and stewards during a controversial opening period.

On-Field Performance

Nonetheless, it was been a highly positive half in sporting terms for Villa as they chased a seventh successive victory at their ground. The forward, who made such an immediate impact when substituted during the break last weekend, was chosen to lead the attack, among multiple rotations to the team sheet.

He capitalized fully of his opportunity, incisive and pacy for the duration on the pitch. The opposition keeper had been forced to save his brilliant long-range effort in the fourth minute, and both other players nearly scored before the Dutchman nodded home the delivery from a teammate. The home side were utterly controlling that eight players were part of the move.

The play for the next score was slightly simpler but no less pleasing to watch. Morgan Rogers played a superb assist for Malen to take in his stride through the channel after which he cut back inside a defender and smashed in his sixth goal of the campaign.

Post-Incident and Finish

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

A subdued mood over the next half hour as the away supporters, almost to a man dressed in black, refrained from singing. Jadon Sancho had a shot saved, and a Villa player was rightly flagged when he set Malen up for a simple finish.

When Villa rang the changes on the sixty-minute point, offering four of their main players additional rest before the local clash, the away contingent resumed their noise. A taunting chant came the home supporters’ riposte.

When Young Boys eventually put the ball in the Villa net, a forward slotting home a delivery, there was a long VAR delay before the goal was disallowed for a positional infringement in the buildup. The assistant referee on the near touchline had shuffled up his line up the field and distanced from the Young Boys supporters when the verdict was announced.

During added time, though, a substitute did crack home a consolation goal, following a diagonal pass, and this time VAR could not deny Young Boys their moment of celebration.

After all the political backdrop to the previous European fixture at this venue, Villa will travel to Switzerland in December hoping for a calm trip and the three points that ought to secure their progress to the last 16 of the competition.