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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated a further success against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club continue to cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight win across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to register his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected wide off the defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’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. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match long since sewn up and later brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.