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A brace by the Dutch striker guided Aston Villa closer to automatic advancement into the knockout stage of the European competition against a backdrop of crowd violence by visiting supporters.

The Netherlands striker is exemplifying the team's greater strength in depth, but this 10th win in twelve matches was tainted by away supporters destroying stadium seating, hurling missiles at security and home team athletes, and clashing with police.

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

Game Summary and Disturbance Particulars

The Swiss fans had helped dictate the initially positive atmosphere before Malen’s first goal. Their coordinated clapping, drumming, pogoing and chanting lent the afternoon start a feeling of a continental occasion, yet what followed both early scores was unacceptable by all measures.

Under circumstances reminiscent of other disturbances with their fans in the recent past, the Young Boys ultras responded to the first goal in the first half by launching plastic cups at the jubilant Villa players, with the goalscorer getting a cut to the head.

Young Boys had been penalized a substantial sum by European football's governing body and ordered to pay City compensation for destroying seats and toilet blocks in their European top-tier match just over two years ago. They were also fined about €18,000 last season for the deployment of flares in their heated Champions League fixture.

Worsening of Unrest

But the trouble got worse after Malen doubled the lead moments prior to the break. While the scorer smiled on doing a knee-slide in the general direction of the travelling fans, they responded by ripping out seats to throw alongside more plastic cups and fluids at the increased presence of police and stewards.

Clashes erupted with police while Loris Benito, team leader, went over to plead for peace from his team’s supporters. No fewer than two disruptors were escorted away by officers. There was a five-minute holdup before the match resumed and the half be completed.

Away supporters confront authorities during a eventful first half.

On-Field Display

Nonetheless, it was been a highly positive period in sporting terms for the hosts as they chased a seventh straight home win. The forward, who had a prompt influence when substituted as a half-time substitute last weekend, was selected to lead the attack, among seven changes 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 teammates came close before Malen headed in the delivery from a teammate. Villa were utterly controlling that multiple contributors were involved in the buildup.

The move for the second goal was somewhat more direct but no less pleasing to watch. Morgan Rogers played a superb assist for the striker to collect effortlessly down the inside-left channel before he cut back inside a defender and smashed in his sixth goal of the season.

Post-Incident and Finish

Maybe the scorer 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, almost to a man wearing dark attire, ceased their chants. Jadon Sancho had a shot saved, and a Villa player was rightly flagged before he set Malen up for a simple finish.

But as the hosts made substitutions on the hour mark, offering four of their main players additional rest before the local clash, the visiting fans sprang back into voice. A taunting chant was the home crowd's retort.

As the visitors eventually put the ball in the Villa net, Chris Bedia sidefooting in a delivery, there was a protracted video review until the goal was disallowed for an offside in the buildup. The linesman on the near touchline had moved position up the field and away from the away fans by the time the verdict was announced.

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

Following the political backdrop to the last Europa League game here, Villa will head to Basel next month anticipating a peaceful visit and the victory that should safeguard their progress to the next round of the competition.