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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated another win against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Francis's winning header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still cherish those memories. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally present. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the kick-off. 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 superb tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display showed Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.