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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the stadium as Forest followers reveled in another win against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup in 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's historic success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were also present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. 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 Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom 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, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off the defender Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, too.