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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the stadium as Forest followers celebrated a further result against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

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

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant banner, in capital letters. 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 stunning display depicted Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.