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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the stadium as Forest fans celebrated a further result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club continue to treasure those memories. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort off target inside two minutes and established a 2-0 lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off Malmö back Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and later brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.