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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those memories. Similarly, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real tension or jitters.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a large banner, 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 continued. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to register his first goal since March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

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 the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off Malmö back Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.