“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the City Ground as Forest followers reveled in a further success against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.
Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory
For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.
This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.
The home side leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.
Remembering the Past
“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning display depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.
Control from the Start
So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.
It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to score his first goal since March.
Second Strike Confirms Dominance
Yates was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.
Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.
Malmö’s Struggles
This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.
Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.
Hiccup-Free Night for Forest
It proved a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.
