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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just 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 deflected aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender also earlier had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of excitement, too.