[Getty Images]Gary Rose - BBC Sport journalistFri, November 28, 2025 at 8:17 AM UTC·1 min readAfter their early-season struggles, Aston Villa are now riding high in both in Europe and the Premier League, with victory over Leeds at the weekend putting them fourth in the table.
They have now won 10 of their last 12 games and their upturn in form has also coincided with an impressive run from Donyell Malen as well.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSince the start of November, the 26-year-old has scored five goals in six appearances for club and country, and Young Boys could not cope with him on Thursday.
He and Morgan Rogers enjoyed an impressive partnership, with the latter reading Malen's runs well and he could easily have had a treble, but boss Unai Emery wisely withdrew him midway through the second period with Villa, at that point, in control.
Malen's form also takes the pressure and spotlight off Ollie Watkins, whose difficult individual season continues as he was unable to add to his one goal in this campaign when he came on for the final 30 minutes, although did see a decent shot saved.
The hosts were far less effective in the final third after Malen and Rogers were withdrawn, and the finale not as comfortable as it perhaps should have been.