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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another win against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Francis's winning header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from then were also present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off the defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match already sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of producing of excitement, too.