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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another success against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those memories. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were additionally present. Both teams shared a meal together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the break. 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 the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon 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 maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Seals Control

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his free header saved by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.