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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the stadium as Forest fans celebrated a further win against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club still treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to score his first goal since March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also scored three times, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.