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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's historic triumph in name, the game itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and company were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off the back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.