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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in another win against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup in 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from then were also present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected wide off the back Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

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

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, as well.