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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the ground as Forest supporters celebrated another win against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man 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 strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to register his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder given 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 driven shot was turned wide off the back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. Forest 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 Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the match long since boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.