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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another win against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club still treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

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

Another Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off the back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest 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 distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.