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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the ground as Forest followers reveled in another success against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest still cherish those memories. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Forest legends and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant tifo depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender also earlier had a powerful header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.