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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the ground as Forest fans celebrated a further result against Malmö. Much has transpired since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and only his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.