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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the City Ground as Forest followers celebrated another win against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were additionally present. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free the defender also earlier had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to equal the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the match long since sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.