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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest supporters celebrated a further success against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup back in the year 1979, but the club continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also present. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and established a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense led by their own academy product captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

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

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.