🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the ground as Forest followers celebrated a further success against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and company received a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free the defender had previously had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.