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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the ground as Forest supporters celebrated another success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight win across all competitions and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era 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 meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second stunning display showed Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

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

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for 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 first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.