Aston Villa delivered another confident European performance, easing past BSC Young Boys thanks to a superb first-half brace from Donyell Malen. The Dutch forward opened the scoring with a precise header after a perfectly measured cross from Youri Tielemans, before doubling the lead with an ice-cold finish following a clever assist from Jaden Rogers. Disturbances in the away section briefly overshadowed the atmosphere, but Villa’s composure on the pitch never wavered.

Malen nearly completed his hat-trick early in the second half, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Villa continued to create chances but began to ease off in the closing stages — a decision that nearly cost them. Young Boys capitalised late on to pull one back, but could not reduce the deficit further. The hosts saw out the match calmly, securing a deserved victory that strengthens their position among the group’s leading trio.

2025-26, Europa League

Aston Villa - Young Boys 2:1 (2:0)
Goals: Malen, 27 (1:0); Malen, 42 (2:0); Monteiro J-l, 90 (2:1)

Aston Villa: Martinez E.; Lindelöf; Torres Pau (Konsa, 60); Maatsen I.; Onana A. (Kamara B., 79); Tielemans (Watkins, 60); Bogarde L.; Malen (Barkley, 60); Sancho; Rogers M. (Buendia, 60); Guessand
Substitution: Konsa (from 60); Barkley (from 60); Watkins (from 60); Buendia (from 60); Kamara B. (from 79)
Bench: Bizot; Digne; Cash; McGinn J.; Elliott H.; Andrés García
Yellow Cards: Onana A. 61; Maatsen I. 90

Young Boys: Keller M.; Hadjam Jaouen; Zoukrou (Wuthrich, 82); Janko S.; Cordova (Bedia, 70); Benito; Lauper; Raveloson (Sanches A., 63); Pech Dom.; Fassnacht (Monteiro J-l, 70); Males (Virginius, 62)
Substitution: Virginius (from 62); Sanches A. (from 63); Monteiro J-l (from 70); Bedia (from 70); Wuthrich (from 82)
Bench: Lindner; Marzino; Andrews R.; Smith R.; Tsimba
Yellow Cards: Lauper 48