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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham 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 straight win across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and company received a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo showed Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage 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 initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the box to score his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an free the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game long since boxed off and later brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed 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 a few nuggets of excitement, as well.