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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest supporters celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph 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 clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Seals Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on November 9th, 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 centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless night for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match long since sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of thrills, too.