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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the ground as Forest fans reveled in a further result against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or jitters.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and company received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second stunning tifo showed Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Seals Control

The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless night for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match long since boxed off and later introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of thrills, too.