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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the ground as Forest followers celebrated another result against Malmö. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any significant tension or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion filled with sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display depicted Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to register his first goal since March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.