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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another win against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the game itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display depicted Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an free the defender also previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game long since boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of thrills, too.