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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in another result against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but the club still treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third 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 counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the match already sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.