Donyell Malen left Villa Park with the prize for being Player of the Match but also an unwanted scar after his side’s Europa League stroll was pockmarked by violence.
There was a significant police presence around the streets of Aston ahead of the visit of BSC Young Boys, the Swiss team, that seemed out-of-kilter the expectations of a match that Unai Emery’s upwardly-mobile side were always going to win.
But it quickly became apparent why the West Midlands constabulary were out in numbers as the behaviour of around 1200 travelling fans became appalling after Malen scored the first of his two goals in the 27th minute.