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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but Forest still hold dear those memories. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also present. Both teams shared a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off the defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of producing of excitement, as well.