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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the stadium as Forest supporters celebrated another success against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s historic success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting 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 providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display depicted Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

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

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off the back Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already sewn up and later brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.