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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the City Ground as Forest followers celebrated a further win against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup in 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was free of any significant tension or jitters.

It proved to be an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off Malmö back Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.