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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in another result against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second stunning tifo showed Brian Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and established a 2-0 lead 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 Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.