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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but the club still cherish those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any significant tension or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to register his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off Malmö back Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free the defender also previously had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, as well.