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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated a further result against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club still treasure those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion filled with sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort 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 felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since March.

Second Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off the back Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game long since boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, as well.