Dynamo Kyiv looking to revive European success from 1998-99

Over 16 years ago, Dynamo Kyiv hosted Real Madrid at the NSK Olimpiyskyi in a match that would decide who reached the semifinals of the Champions League.

Fueled by Serhiy Rebrov and a 22-year-old Andriy Shevchenko, Dynamo had breezed through the group stage of the competition, topping a group that contained the likes of RC Lens, Arsenal and Panathinaikos. They were then paired against Real Madrid in the quarterfinals and emerged with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the tie at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Here was a chance for Dynamo to eliminate the reigning champions, whose squad included Christian Panucci, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro, Raul, Clarence Seedorf, Guti, Fernando Morientes and others.

Sure enough, the Ukrainian club pulled off a 2-0 win courtesy of a brace from Shevchenko. His first goal came after he slotted home a missed penalty in the 63rd minute, while his second was the result of slotting home an audacious chip that took out Real Madrid's entire backline in the 79th minute.

Their Champions League adventure unfortunately met its end in the semifinals, where they fell 4-3 on aggregate to Bayern Munich, a scoreline that could have been different had Dynamo not suffered a late-game collapse in the first leg.

But on Thursday, Dynamo have the chance to return to the semifinals of a European competition.

Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal tie versus Fiorentina last week, the Ukrainian club, now managed by Rebrov from the 1998-99 side, will need to score at least once at the Stadio Artemio Franchi due to Khouma Babacar's 92nd-minute equaliser.

"We conceded a very late goal in the first leg and mistakes were made; I hope tomorrow will be different," said Rebrov on Wednesday. "We have prepared well and I am confident we will show our true quality. Fiorentina are an excellent side, full of excellent players. They are used to playing a high level. The only team of that calibre we have at home is Shakhtar Donetsk.

"Tomorrow's match is very important to us. Florence is a very nice city, but we have come here to compete; this is not a holiday. We are a bit tired because of the busy fixture list, but players are professionals and that shouldn't be a factor when we get out there."

Rebrov is viewed as something of a miracle worker at Dynamo, having guided the club to the Ukrainian Cup in 2014 and to the verge of winning this season's Ukrainian Premier League, a feat that would mark their first league title since 2009.

And of course, his accomplishments come at a time where Ukraine is in the midst of a political crisis that started in November 2013, when now-deposed and pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych abandoned a deal with the European Union in favour of stronger ties with Russia.

Should Dynamo advance, there's a possibility that they would meet Zenit St. Petersburg in the semifinals, a match that would pit a Ukrainian club against a Russian club at a far-from-ideal time.

But first and foremost, Dynamo need to get the job done at Fiorentina before that potential conflict becomes a reality.