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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but the club continue to cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display showed Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and established a 2-0 lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to register his first goal since March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also 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 evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the match long since boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of producing of thrills, as well.