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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in a further result against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

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

Forest fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Seals Control

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given 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, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game long since boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of thrills, as well.