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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another result against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club continue to treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

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

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since March.

Second Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced 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 optimistic effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.