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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the stadium as Forest fans reveled in another win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking refreshed and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to register his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Seals Control

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off the back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they additionally netted three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of producing of thrills, as well.