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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in a further success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the legends of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display depicted Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

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

Second Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off the defender Rösler, the son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free the defender also previously had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match long since boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, as well.