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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another success against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight win across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were also in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö back Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and later brought on teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.