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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off the back Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match long since sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.