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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the City Ground as Forest supporters reveled in another result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but the club still treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header saved by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match long since sewn up and later introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of excitement, as well.