🔗 Share this article Arnaud Kalimuendo Scores as Nottingham Forest Claim Nostalgic Triumph Against Malmö “You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the ground as Forest followers celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Francis's winning header secured the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club still cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition. Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters. This was an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago. The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically superb display was shown in the Trent End. Remembering History “May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium. Dominance from the Outset So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go. It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his first goal since March. Another Goal Seals Dominance Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post. A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen. Opponent's Struggles This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers. Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half. Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game already boxed off and later introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of thrills, as well.