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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the ground as Forest followers celebrated another win against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but the club continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning tifo showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in 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 Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate 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 United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing 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 deflected wide off the defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the team that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.