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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated a further success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive clash between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off the defender Rösler, the son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had earlier had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.