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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in another success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also present. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

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

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path 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

The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off the back Rösler, son of former Man City forward Uwe, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of excitement, as well.