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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the City Ground as Forest supporters reveled in another win against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club still treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Third Straight Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in spirit, 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 clash between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the box to register his first goal since March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off the back Rösler, the son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of excitement, too.