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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the ground as Forest supporters reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

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

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally present. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off the back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground recently, when they also netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.