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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated a further win against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Francis's winning header secured the European Cup in 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally present. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to score his first goal since March.

Second Goal Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free the defender also previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game already sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.