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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header secured the European Cup in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his first goal since March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off the defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match already sewn up and later brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of excitement, as well.