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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the City Ground as Forest fans celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally present. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company 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

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off the defender Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.