Aston Villa moved closer to automatic qualification from the Europa League group stage thanks to a commanding performance, with Donyell Malen scoring twice in a 2-1 victory over Young Boys.

The Dutch forward, 26, was the star of the show, scoring both goals in a first half disrupted by crowd trouble. Malen was struck by a plastic cup as he celebrated his opener in the 27th minute, and later scored his second just before halftime, prompting a brief halt in play after some seats were torn up in the away section and objects were thrown onto the pitch.

Villa’s Resurgence Under Unai Emery

Aston Villa have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround this season after a poor start that saw them go winless in their first six matches. Thursday’s win marked their seventh consecutive home victory, and 10th win in 12 games across competitions, underlining the club’s strong revival.

Malen’s goals highlighted his current form, with a header from Youri Tielemans’ precise cross opening the scoring, and a clinical finish from Morgan Rogers’ assist extending the lead just before halftime. Malen thought he had completed a hat-trick in the second half, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

His double against Young Boys took his tally to 12 Europa League goals in 19 appearances: eight with PSV Eindhoven, three with Villa, and one with Borussia Dortmund, further cementing his status as one of Europe’s in-form forwards.

Match Analysis

While Villa dominated much of the match, Young Boys threatened late. Former Hull City loanee Chris Bedia had a goal disallowed for offside, and the Swiss side eventually scored in the 90th minute when Joel Monteiro volleyed past Emiliano Martínez after a perfect pass from Gregory Wuthrich. Despite the late consolation, Villa held on to maintain their third-place position in the group, level on 12 points with the leaders.

Villa’s midfield duo of Malen and Rogers was particularly effective. Rogers’ intelligent movement and vision consistently created opportunities, allowing Malen to exploit gaps in the Young Boys defense. Emery withdrew both players midway through the second half to preserve energy ahead of Villa’s Premier League clash with Wolves on Sunday, 30 November.

Young Boys’ Struggles in England

The Swiss side faced a difficult evening, with crowd disruptions overshadowing much of the first half. Captain Loris Benito intervened to calm the supporters after Malen’s second goal, which helped stabilize the atmosphere. Despite the setback, Young Boys showed resilience after the break, exploiting Villa’s temporary easing of pressure to create late chances.

This result extends Young Boys’ poor record in England, with five defeats in seven visits, though their performance after halftime will give manager Gerardo Seoane hope for their remaining group stage fixtures.

Key Players and Ratings

• Player of the Match: Donyell Malen – 8.40
• Youri Tielemans – 7.35
• Morgan Rogers – 7.31
• Emiliano Martínez – 6.46
• Ollie Watkins – 5.29

Villa’s strong individual performances, particularly from Malen and Tielemans, highlight the squad’s depth and attacking threat in European competition.

What’s Next

• Aston Villa: Host Wolves in the Premier League on 30 November (14:05 GMT) and face Basel in the Europa League on 11 December (20:00 GMT).
• Young Boys: Host Lille on 11 December (17:45 GMT) as they aim to recover and push for a knockout stage spot.

Villa’s resurgence under Unai Emery continues to impress, with Malen in sensational form providing a platform for both domestic and European success. If this momentum continues, Villa look well-placed to secure a strong finish in the Europa League group stage.