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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in a further success against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight win across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” 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 squads came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off the defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match long since sewn up and later brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, as well.