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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the City Ground as Forest fans reveled in another success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Victory

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 – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the momentum generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout 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 pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off the back Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had earlier had a strong header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest 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. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game long since sewn up and later brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, as well.