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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated a further result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal 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 came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off the defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. 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 Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match long since boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, as well.