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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in a further 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 treasure those memories. Similarly, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second stunning display depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. 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 Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second outing since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off the back Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match long since boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.