Nottingham Forest 3-0 Malmo Player Ratings: Ryan Yates Rated 9/10 as Forest Dominate in a 3-0 Thrashing

What a performance from Nottingham Forest. From our perspective, they completely dismantled Malmo in this Europa League encounter. The atmosphere at The City Ground was electric, and the players fed off it from the very first minute. This match was a story of one-way traffic.

Forest were relentless. They pressed high, moved the ball with purpose, and never let their opponents settle. It was frankly surprising to see how easily they carved open the Swedish side's defense time and again. The 3-0 scoreline doesn't even tell the full story; it could have easily been more.

Goals from captain Ryan Yates, the sharp Arnaud Kalimuendo, and towering defender Nikola Milenković sealed the deal. It was a statement victory, and one that sends a clear message to their rivals in the competition. What stood out to us was the sheer confidence oozing from the home side.

Here are Nottingham Forest Vs Malmo Player Ratings

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs Malmo

Here are Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs Malmo

Goalkeeper

John Victor - 7.0: Honestly, he had one of the quietest nights of his career. He only had to make one save all game. Still, a clean sheet is a clean sheet, and he commanded his area well when called upon. We noticed his distribution was quick, helping launch counter-attacks. He did everything asked of him without any fuss. A calm and composed presence.

Defenders

Morato - 7.5: A rock at the back. He was so comfortable on the ball, completing 97% of his passes which is just ridiculous for a defender. He looked completely untroubled throughout the ninety minutes. He won all of his duels and even created a chance. From our perspective, a very polished and professional performance that laid the foundation for the win.

Murillo - 8.0: What a player this guy is. Before being forced off with a knock, he was immense. Not only was he solid defensively, but he also created three chances from the back. His ability to carry the ball out of defence is a massive asset. He was a constant threat with his forward-thinking passes. We were genuinely disappointed when he had to be substituted.

Nikola Milenković - 8.5: An absolute giant. He was dominant in the air, strong in the tackle, and capped it all off with a well-taken goal from a corner. He won 5 of his 8 duels and made three crucial tackles. His goal was the icing on the cake for a commanding defensive display. A true warrior's performance, and he looked like he enjoyed every second of the battle.

Zach Abbott - 7.0: A solid outing for the right-back. He got forward well, putting in nine crosses and always offering an option on the overlap. Defensively he was sound, winning his tackles and making important interceptions. The yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise very good game. He has so much energy up and down that flank.

Midfielders

Ibrahim Sangaré - 7.5: He just ran the show in the middle of the park. Sangaré was everywhere, breaking up play and starting attacks with incredible efficiency. He created three key passes and was a vital link between the defence and attack. We were surprised by how much ground he covered before being substituted. A class act.

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 8.0: He was electric. The only thing missing from his performance was a goal, and he was desperately unlucky to hit the woodwork. He created a big chance, was a nightmare for defenders with his dribbling, and put in some dangerous crosses. What stood out to us was his work rate, as he also made three interceptions. He was a constant menace.

Nicolás Domínguez - 7.0: A tidy and effective performance. He kept the ball moving with a 93% pass accuracy and supported the attack well. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he didn't need to. He was the glue that held things together in midfield, quietly going about his business with intelligence and composure. A solid, if unsung, contribution.

Ryan Yates - 9.0: Our Man of the Match, without a doubt. The captain led by example with a fantastic goal and an assist. He was all-action, contributing defensively with tackles and interceptions while also driving forward to join the attack. His goal set the tone for the entire match. It was a complete midfield performance filled with passion and quality.

James McAtee - 7.5: So clever and creative. He floated around the pitch finding pockets of space and created two great chances, including a big one. His crossing was a consistent threat and he linked up play beautifully. He was a bit wasteful in possession at times, but his creativity far outweighed any negatives. A joy to watch when he's in this mood.

Forwards

Arnaud Kalimuendo - 8.0: He was a proper handful for the Malmö defence. He took his goal with a poacher's instinct, being in the right place at the right time. He was always looking to get in behind and his two shots on target showed his attacking intent. A really sharp and effective performance before he was given a rest in the second half.

Substitutes

Dan Ndoye - 6.5: Came on and looked lively, but the game was already won. Igor Jesus - 6.0: Had little time to make a real impact. Elliot Anderson - 6.0: Picked up a yellow card shortly after coming on. Neco Williams - 6.5: Provided an assist for a late Hudson-Odoi chance. Jimmy Sinclair - 6.0: Earned a yellow card in his brief cameo.

Manager

S. Dyche - 8.5: He got his tactics spot on. The team was perfectly set up to exploit Malmö's weaknesses. They were aggressive, organized, and played with a clear identity. The substitutions were managed well, resting key players once the game was secure. From our perspective, it was a managerial masterclass.

Malmo Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Here are Malmo Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Goalkeeper

Melker Ellborg - 7.0: It feels strange to give a high rating to a goalkeeper who conceded three goals, but he was Malmö's best player. He made seven saves, some of which were outstanding. Without him, this could have been a 6-0 or 7-0 humiliation. He was let down badly by his defence and deserved better. He can hold his head high.

Defenders

Andrej Djuric - 5.5: He was busy, making four tackles, but he struggled to contain the fluid Forest attack. He won a decent number of his duels but was part of a backline that was completely overwhelmed. A tough night at the office where he was fighting a losing battle against superior opposition. He never gave up, at least.

Pontus Jansson - 5.0: A really poor performance from the captain. He looked off the pace, picked up a needless yellow card, and was caught out of position multiple times. He made seven clearances, but many were last-ditch. What stood out was his frustration; he looked completely rattled by Forest's attack. A night to forget for the experienced defender.

Colin Rösler - 5.5: He made a couple of important blocks and clearances, but like his defensive partners, he was simply outclassed. He tried to be composed on the ball but was under constant pressure. He won most of his duels but it wasn't enough to stem the tide. He was fighting a fire with a water pistol.

Midfielders

Jens Stryger Larsen - 5.0: Largely anonymous. He struggled to get into the game and offered very little either defensively or offensively. He was dribbled past and lost the key midfield battle. From our perspective, the game just passed him by completely. He needed to be much more involved for his team to have any chance.

Lasse Berg Johnsen - 5.0: Another player who was overrun in midfield. He was substituted after 65 minutes having made little to no impact on the proceedings. He looked lost against the energy and movement of the Forest midfielders. A very forgettable performance where he was simply a passenger.

Busanello - 5.5: He drew a few fouls and made a couple of tackles, but he was chasing shadows for most of the game. He lost the ball too often under pressure. He showed some fight, but it was nowhere near enough to disrupt Forest's rhythm. He was part of a midfield unit that was completely dominated.

Adrian Skogmar - 5.0: He worked hard but lacked the quality to make a difference. He completed a few tackles but was mostly chasing the ball. He was another player who looked out of his depth against high-level opposition. A difficult and frustrating evening for him.

Forwards

Sead Haksabanovic - 6.0: One of the few Malmö players who tried to make something happen. He completed four dribbles and always looked to be positive on the ball. However, he also lost possession frequently and his final product was lacking. At least he showed some spark and intent, which is more than can be said for many of his teammates.

Daníel Gudjohnsen - 5.0: Completely isolated and ineffective. He barely touched the ball and was easily handled by the Forest defenders. He drew a few fouls but offered zero threat to the goal. It was a thankless task for him up front, but he offered very little resistance. Substituted after a ghost-like performance.

Hugo Bolin - 4.5: Had a miserable time before his night was cut short by injury. He committed fouls and gave the ball away cheaply. He looked completely overwhelmed by the occasion and the opposition. We felt for him when he went off injured, but he was having a torrid time anyway.

Substitutes

Emmanuel Ekong - 5.5: Replaced the injured Bolin but couldn't change the flow of the game. Anders Christiansen - 5.5: Brought on to add experience but the game was already lost. Kenan Busuladzic - 5.5: Had little opportunity to influence the match.

Manager

A. Mravac - 4.5: His team looked completely unprepared for what Forest threw at them. The tactical setup was all wrong, leaving them exposed at the back and toothless in attack. His side lacked fight, organization, and a clear game plan. A very bad day at the office for the manager, who was totally out-thought by his counterpart.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Ryan Yates