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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the ground as Forest followers reveled in a further success against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club continue to treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive clash between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Forest legends and company were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside two minutes and established a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö defender Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game long since sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.