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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further result against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still treasure those memories. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team looking refreshed and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built 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, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to register his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off the back Rösler, the son of former Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match long since sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.