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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in a further success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but Forest still treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining 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 – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display showed Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

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

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.