Aston Villa continued their impressive European form with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over BSC Young Boys at a vibrant Villa Park on Thursday night, securing their fifth win in this season's Europa League campaign.
Malen's Masterclass and Personal Dissatisfaction
The match was defined by a first-half masterclass from Dutch forward Donyell Malen, who netted both of Villa's goals. This performance takes his personal tally to an impressive 12 goals in just 19 Europa League appearances, adding to the eight he scored for PSV and one for Borussia Dortmund.
Despite his match-winning contribution, Malen expressed a hint of frustration in his post-match interview, believing his tally should have been higher. "I feel good," he told VillaTV. "As a team, we played well, we created a lot of opportunities. I should have scored probably two more if I'm really honest, but it's a good feeling."
Malen credited his faith and happiness on the pitch for his confident displays, stating, "I'm a faithful man and I play for God. I just want to play my football and enjoy every step on the pitch."
Emery's Fitness Revelation and Selection Dilemma
The victory was somewhat marred by ugly scenes from a section of the travelling supporters, who threw objects following Malen's first goal and clashed amongst themselves and with police after his second.
Manager Unai Emery delivered a telling insight into Malen's development, revealing that the player's fitness has been a key factor in his increased involvement. "He is progressively getting better," Emery revealed. "I remember one month ago he demanded that I changed him because he was tired. Progressively he has been getting fitter."
This improved condition creates a welcome selection headache for Emery. Ollie Watkins, who replaced Malen after the hour mark, is still searching for a goal, though he was denied by a last-ditch challenge after a superb pass from Ross Barkley. The question now is whether both forwards will start together against Wolves in the Premier League, a system that looked sharp against Burnley.
The Tight Race for a Top-Two Finish
With this win, Villa are now locked in a tight battle for a top-two finish in the league phase, a position that would grant them home advantage in the second legs of the knockout rounds. Villa sit level on 12 points with Lyon and FC Midtjylland, who currently occupy the coveted top two spots.
Lyon thrashed Maccabi Tel Aviv 6-0, while Midtjylland's perfect record was ended in a 2-1 defeat to Roma. Villa's remaining fixtures—away to FC Basel and Fenerbahce before hosting RB Salzburg—appear tougher on paper than their rivals' run-ins. However, Villa's deep and talented squad could be the decisive factor.
Last season, the top two teams finished on 19 points each, illustrating that Villa may need to win all three of their remaining matches to secure that crucial automatic advantage for the next round.
