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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the ground as Forest followers celebrated a further success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second stunning display depicted Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off the defender Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender had earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match already sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.