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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the ground as Forest followers reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together before the match. Forest legends and company received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large tifo, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, 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 Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his first goal since March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.