Nottingham Forest stun Malmö 3-0 in emotional Europa League rematch of 1979 final

On a chilly November night in Nottingham, Nottingham Forest delivered more than just a 3-0 win over Malmö Fotbollförening — they rewrote history in real time. The match, played on UEFA Europa League 2025/26 City Ground on November 27, 2025, wasn’t just another league fixture. It was a 46-year echo of the 1979 European Cup final, where Forest’s legendary side crushed Malmö 1-0 in Munich. This time, they did it again — and the entire stadium knew it.

A Night of Memory and Mastery

Before kickoff, the City Ground fell silent as the 1979 European Cup-winning squad — now men in their 60s and 70s — walked out arm-in-arm to a standing ovation. Brian Clough’s name was chanted louder than ever. Among them: John Robertson, Steve Hodge, and the late Trevor Francis’s widow, holding his medal. The tribute wasn’t ceremonial fluff. It was a reminder: this club doesn’t just play football. It carries ghosts — and they still win.

Then came the football. In the 33rd minute, Arnaud Kalimuendo, the 23-year-old French striker, pounced on a loose ball after a scramble in the box. Malmö’s defense, still stunned by the tribute, had barely recovered. The goal sent the stands into a frenzy. It wasn’t pretty — no balletic moves, no solo runs — just cold, clinical finishing. The kind of goal Forest used to score under Clough.

By halftime, the momentum was undeniable. Ryan Yates, Forest’s captain and central midfielder, was everywhere. Sofascore rated him 8.9 — the highest of the night. He broke up Malmö’s attacks, threaded passes through midfield like a surgeon, and even forced a crucial clearance in the 41st minute after Patrik Jansson’s reckless tackle in the 27th minute nearly cost his team a red card. Jansson, Malmö’s veteran center-back, was visibly rattled. He had been there in 1979 — not as a player, but as a 1-year-old in Malmö watching his father scream at the TV.

The Ghosts of Munich

The historical weight of this fixture wasn’t lost on anyone. The 1979 final — played on May 30 at Munich’s Olympiastadion — was Forest’s first European crown. Trevor Francis, the first £1 million player in English football, scored the only goal. Malmö, then champions of Sweden, were the underdogs. No one expected them to reach the final. No one expected Forest to win it.

But they did. And now, in 2025, Forest faced Malmö again — not in a final, but in the new 36-team Europa League League phase. The structure changed. The players changed. But the narrative? It hadn’t budged.

“It felt like fate,” said Forest fan David Hargreaves, 58, who was at the 1979 final. “I cried when they showed the old squad. Then I cried again when Kalimuendo scored. It’s like Clough is still here, pulling the strings.”

Malmö, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm. Their 2024/25 Allsvenskan title win felt distant here. Their possession dropped to 38% in the second half. Their attack had zero shots on target after the 60th minute. Goalkeeper Florian Wiegele — who had made headlines earlier in Matchday 5 for a stunning save against Sturm Graz — was barely tested. Forest’s keeper, Jack Butland, didn’t have a single save to make in the second half. Not because Malmö were weak — but because Forest controlled everything.

What This Win Means

The 3-0 result lifted Nottingham Forest to fifth in the Europa League League phase table, all but guaranteeing a top-eight finish and direct entry into the round of 16. With only two matches left, they’re on track to finish higher than any English club outside the Premier League’s top six. That’s not just impressive — it’s seismic.

For Malmö, it’s a setback. They sit 22nd, clinging to playoff hopes. Their manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson, admitted after the game: “We were outplayed by a team with more soul than squad depth. That’s the difference.”

And that’s the real story. Forest’s squad cost less than Malmö’s. Their average age is 26. They don’t have billionaire owners. They have history. They have memory. And on this night, they had purpose.

What’s Next?

Forest’s next Europa League match is away to Fenerbahçe on December 11. A win there seals their top-eight spot. Malmö must beat Galatasaray at home on the same day to keep their knockout dreams alive. Both teams will face each other again in the 2026/27 Champions League qualifiers — if Malmö can climb back up Sweden’s ladder.

As for the City Ground? It’s now a shrine. The club plans to install a permanent tribute plaque near the main stand, listing the 1979 squad and the 2025 victory. “This isn’t nostalgia,” said Forest director of football, Paul Williams. “It’s identity.”

Behind the Numbers

- Final score: Nottingham Forest 3-0 Malmö FF
- Goal: Arnaud Kalimuendo (33')
- Assists: Ryan Yates (2), Brennan Johnson (1)
- Player of the Match: Ryan Yates (Sofascore rating: 8.9)
- Possession: Forest 62% - Malmö 38%
- Shots on target: Forest 7 - Malmö 0
- Attendance: 30,124 (full house at City Ground)
- Historical context: First meeting since 1979 European Cup final
- Competition stage: UEFA Europa League 2025/26, Matchday 5 of 8