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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in a further success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to register his first goal since 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 Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off the defender Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match long since sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard 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.