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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked 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 reminder of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also present. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo showed Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off the back Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match long since boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of thrills, as well.