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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further result against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also present. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

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

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three goals, 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 night for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match already boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “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.