🔗 Share this article Kalimuendo Strikes as Forest Earn Nostalgic Victory Against Malmö “Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League. Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Win For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves. It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago. Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb display was shown in the Trent End. Recalling History “May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant tifo depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion. Dominance from the Outset So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go. It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the box to score his first goal since March. Second Strike Confirms Dominance Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post. A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off Malmö back Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen. Opponent's Struggles This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers. The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period. Smooth Evening for Forest It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match already sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of excitement, too.