We've seen it before. Portsmouth in 2010. Fulham a couple of days later. Everton in 2015? Can you spot the pattern?
In case it's too difficult to figure out, I'm talking about a team that has desperately struggled domestically, yet when it comes to another competition, the so-called 'minnows' absolutely flourish, looking a completely different side from the one that flops so regularly week in, week out.
In the season of 09/10, the players at Craven Cottage seemed to be mysteriously kidnapped on every European adventure and replaced by hardened warriors, who battled all the way to the UEFA Cup Final, eventually losing in extra-time to an Atlético Madrid side containing the likes of David De Gea, Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero. All at the same time as fighting for their lives to earn Premier League survival under Roy Hodgson. Talk about a contrast.
Then it brings us to Everton. We can't make the same comparisons just yet, because Everton aren't exactly fighting for their survival, nor are they really far in Europe yet. But for a team of their standards, with a manager and a squad like theirs, 14th place is a woeful return in the Premier League, considering they were temporarily fourth at one point last season.
Do not take Kiev for granted though, under any circumstances. They lead the Ukrainian league by seven points, without having lost a game at home yet. They have won their last four home games in Europe by at least two goals. They are an extremely formidable opponent at home and their maniacal fans serve simply to utterly intimidate any visitors back into their shells and tomorrow, their supporters will be in full force, like you've never heard them before. It is undoubtedly Everton's biggest fixture of this season so far.
With a win in Ukraine tomorrow night, Roberto Martinez's Toffees will advance into the Europa League Quarter-Finals as the only English team left in any European competition. Now that's pressure.
TEAM NEWS
Dinamo Kiev are without former Montpellier midfielder Younes Belhanda through suspension and Yevhen Makarenko through a recent injury picked up the by the central midfielder.
Aiden McGeady could make his return to the Everton team, as could John Stones, as the pair recover from injuries, although Kevin Mirallas, Tony Hibbert, Bryan Oviedo and Steven Pienaar are all still sidelined. Aaron Lennon will also miss the game, as the on-loan Tottenham winger is cup-tied, due to featuring for the London club earlier in the competition.