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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the ground as Forest fans reveled in another success against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Clough watching events beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Seals Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and only his second outing since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off Malmö back Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.