“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated a further success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club still cherish those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.
Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Win
For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.
It proved to be an event filled with sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.
Forest leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.
Recalling History
“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.
Control from the Outset
So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.
It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola 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 penalty area to register his first goal since March.
Another Goal Confirms Dominance
The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.
Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off the back Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.
Opponent's Difficulties
This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.
Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.
Hiccup-Free Night for Forest
It proved a flawless night for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game long since boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.
