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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in a further result against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an event filled with 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, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together before the match. Forest legends and company received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

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

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match already sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.