Two goals by the Dutch striker propelled Aston Villa closer to automatic qualification for the last 16 of the European competition against a backdrop of fan disturbances from visiting supporters.
Dutch striker is exemplifying the team's improved strength in depth, but this tenth victory in 12 games was marred by visiting fans destroying seats, throwing missiles at security and Villa players, and clashing with officers.
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 looks a good bet to win this competition for a record fifth occasion.
The Swiss fans had helped dictate the initially positive mood before Malen’s first goal. Their orchestrated clapping, drumming, pogoing and chanting had helped give the early kick-off a sense of a continental occasion, yet what followed both early scores was inexcusable by all measures.
Under circumstances reminiscent of past incidents involving their supporters in the past two years, the visiting hardcore fans responded to Malen’s headed goal in the first half by launching containers at the jubilant Villa players, with the goalscorer getting a facial injury.
Young Boys had been penalized a substantial sum by European football's governing body and instructed to cover damages for destroying seats and toilet blocks in their European top-tier visit in a previous season. Additionally, they were fined about €18,000 last season for the use of pyrotechnics in their heated Champions League visit.
But the trouble escalated following the second goal moments before half-time. While the scorer grinned celebrating with a slide in the general direction of the travelling fans, the fans reacted by ripping out seats to hurl in addition to further projectiles and fluids at the growing numbers of security personnel.
Fighting broke out with police while Loris Benito, team leader, went over to plead for peace from his team’s supporters. No fewer than two trouble-makers were removed by officers. There was a five-minute holdup before the match resumed and the period concluded.
Away supporters clash with police and stewards during a controversial opening period.
Nonetheless, it was been a highly positive period on the field for the hosts as they pursued 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 seven changes to the team sheet.
How he made the most of his chance, incisive and pacy for all of his hour in play. The opposition keeper had had to tip over his brilliant long-range effort in the early stages, and two teammates came close before Malen headed in a cross from midfield. 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 aesthetically pleasing. A teammate delivered an excellent assist for the striker to take in his stride down the inside-left channel before he turned past his marker and drilled home his sixth goal of the season.
Maybe Malen ought to have avoided celebrating in the away fans' area, but the crowd violence was as unforgivable as it was severe.
There was a quieter atmosphere in the subsequent period as the away supporters, almost to a man wearing dark attire, refrained from singing. Jadon Sancho had a attempt stopped, and a Villa player was rightly flagged when providing an assist for a simple finish.
When the hosts made substitutions on the sixty-minute point, allowing key individuals additional rest before the local clash, the away contingent resumed their noise. “We forgot that you were here,” came the home supporters’ riposte.
As the visitors did first get the ball in the goal, Chris Bedia sidefooting in a cross, there was a protracted video review before the score was ruled out for a positional infringement in the preceding action. The assistant referee on the near touchline had moved position up the field and distanced from the Young Boys supporters when the decision was given.
In stoppage time, however, a substitute scored a late reply, after a diagonal pass, and on this occasion video review upheld the visitors their moment of celebration.
Following the context 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 next round of the tournament.
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