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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the City Ground as Forest supporters celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team looking refreshed and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Seals Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off the defender Colin Rösler, son of former Man City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a strong header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

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 subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.