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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the stadium as Forest followers reveled in another success against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's winning header secured the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of former Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.