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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off the defender Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match long since sewn up and later brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.