🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Win

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

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

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together before the match. Forest legends and company received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

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

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Seals Control

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off Malmö back Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free the defender also earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match already sewn up and later introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.