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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the ground as Forest followers celebrated another success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an attempt wide inside two minutes 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, 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 Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his first goal since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game already sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of producing of excitement, as well.