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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the City Ground as Forest supporters reveled in a further win against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Similarly, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an event dripping in 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 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off the defender Rösler, the son of ex- Man City forward Uwe, and an free the defender had earlier had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the match long since boxed off and later introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.