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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in a further win against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

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

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display depicted Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.