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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in a further win against Malmö. Much has transpired since Francis's winning header secured the European Cup in 1979, but the club continue to cherish those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to register his first goal since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had previously had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Night for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.