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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real tension or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

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

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game 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 current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.