Malen on target twice as Villa beat Young Boys | OneFootball

Aston Villa moved a step closer to the Europa League knockouts with a 2-1 win over Young Boys at Villa Park.

Villa were in control from the start, moving the ball around confidently and pinning Young Boys back. Donyell Malen had already gone close a couple of times before finally breaking the deadlock on 27 minutes, guiding in a neat header from a pinpoint Youri Tielemans cross. His celebration was briefly interrupted by trouble in the away end, but it didn’t throw Villa off their stride.

Just before half-time, Malen struck again. Morgan Rogers burst forward from deep and slipped him in, and the Dutchman finished calmly across the keeper to double the lead. Young Boys had barely threatened, failing to muster a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

Villa kept pushing after the break. Jadon Sancho forced Marvin Keller into a low stop, and Malen thought he’d completed his hat-trick only for Rogers to be flagged offside in the build-up. Several chances came and went as Villa eased off, perhaps a little too early.

The visitors finally offered something late on. Chris Bedia had a goal chalked off by VAR, but in the final minute Joel Monteiro pulled one back with a classy chest-and-volley finish after Villa were caught out by a long ball. That made for a slightly edgy ending, but Unai Emery’s side saw it out.

The win moves Villa up to second in the league phase, with Young Boys staying well down the order. Malen’s hot streak, and Villa’s improving form, keeps them firmly on course for the knockouts.