🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Equally, major shifts have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or nerves.

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

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had previously had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match long since boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.