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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the ground as Forest fans reveled in another success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Francis's winning header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club continue to cherish those memories. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving 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 shared a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game long since boxed off and later introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, too.