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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the ground as Forest fans reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or jitters.

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

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to score his first goal since March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off Malmö back Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had previously had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, as well.