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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the City Ground as Forest supporters celebrated another result against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally present. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant tifo depicted Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also scored three goals, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.