🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest followers reveled in another success against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club continue to cherish those memories. Equally, major 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 Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second stunning display depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his unmarked header saved by the 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 the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, 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 corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game long since boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.