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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the City Ground as Forest followers celebrated another success against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive 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 Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were also present. Both teams shared a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display depicted Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the match long since sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.