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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control 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 wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off the back Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also previously had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league 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 applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match long since sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.