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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest still treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to register his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and later introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.