🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the City Ground as Forest followers reveled in a further win against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still treasure those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was free of any significant tension or nerves.

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

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö back Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and later brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.