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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the ground as Forest fans celebrated another result against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club continue to treasure those memories. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also present. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display depicted Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside two minutes and established a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off the back Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City forward Uwe, and an free the defender had previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game already boxed off and later introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.