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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest supporters celebrated a further result against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the momentum generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

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

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant tifo showed Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off Malmö back Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free the defender had earlier had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.