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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to register his first goal since March.

Second Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of former Man City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the match already sewn up and later introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.