Arnaud Kalimuendo Fires as Forest Earn Sentimental Triumph Against Malmö

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the stadium as Forest followers reveled in another win against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – 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 reminder of the club's European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or nerves.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third meeting between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they also netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match already sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.