🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. Both teams shared a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender 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 penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö back Rösler, son of former Man City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match already boxed off and later brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.