Nottingham Forest delivered a dominant 3-0 victory against Malmo FF in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, extending their unbeaten streak to five matches under manager Sean Dyche. The match at City Ground saw summer signing Arnaud Kalimuendo score his first goal for the club, marking a milestone in Forest's recent resurgence.
Match Highlights
The hosts took control early, with Ryan Yates opening the scoring in the 27th minute with a crisp first-time finish. Kalimuendo, a £25m acquisition from Rennes, doubled the lead just before halftime, capitalizing on a rebound after Yates' header was parried by Malmo goalkeeper Melker Ellborg.
Defender Nikola Milenkovic sealed the victory in the 58th minute, firing home from close range following a chaotic corner sequence. The win marked Forest's largest European margin of victory since their 4-1 triumph over Grasshopper Club Zurich in 1979.
Dyche's Impact
Forest's third consecutive win across all competitions comes amid a dramatic turnaround under Dyche, who has now overseen three straight matches with three or more goals scored – a feat last achieved by the club in Premier League action nearly three decades ago.
"This performance builds on our recent results," Dyche said post-match. "The players are buying into the system, and it's rewarding to see new signings like Arnaud making important contributions."
Historical Significance
The fixture carried extra symbolism as a replay of Forest's iconic 1979 European Cup final victory over Malmo. Legends from that historic side were honored pre-match, adding emotional weight to Forest's comprehensive display.
Looking Ahead
With this result, Forest climb to 16th in the Europa League standings, just two points shy of knockout qualification. Attention now turns to Sunday's Premier League clash against Brighton, where Dyche's resurgent side will look to maintain their momentum.
"Nottingham Forest have rediscovered their scoring touch at just the right time. Under Dyche, they're playing with renewed confidence and purpose." -
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