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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the City Ground as Forest supporters reveled in another success against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and company were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo showed Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. 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 as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.