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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight win across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off the defender Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.