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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated another success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking refreshed and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Forest legends and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

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 academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Seals Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö defender Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match long since sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.