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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated another win against Malmö. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club continue to treasure those memories. Equally, major shifts have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the legends of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected wide off the back Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a strong 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 ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.