Prolific Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku will lead Everton’s assault on Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Europa League round-of-16, first-leg tie today after scoring five times in the previous round.
Other plum ties in the round-of-16 see VfL Wolfsburg host Inter, SSC Napoli welcome Dynamo Moscow, while ACF Fiorentina await AS Roma, with return legs to be played a week later.
The 21-year-old Lukaku is the top scorer remaining in the competition with six goals, mainly thanks to his hat-trick in the away leg and brace at home during Everton’s 7-2 aggregate thumping of Swiss side BSC Young Boys in the last round.
“Sometimes you need to remember the age he is, yet he is such a mature goalscorer,” said his coach Roberto Martinez, whose side have won three of their four European home ties, but who lie 14th in the English Premier League.
The last time Everton got this far in Europe was in 2007-2008 when they lost on penalties to Fiorentina, but there is hunger in Everton’s attitude that sees them targeting the final in Warsaw on May 27.
Everton’s other Belgian, 27-year-old winger Kevin Mirallas, who has three goals and an assist in the competition, feels the club’s fans can boost them with their big European match mentality.
“The away game will be difficult because of the stadium and the atmosphere,” Mirallas told the Everton Web site.
“In Wolfsburg, Lille, Krasnodar and Bern, the fans came and it was great for the team,” said Mirallas, in reference to the support against Everton’s Europa League opponents so far.
Everton are the Premier League’s last team in the tournament after Liverpool were beaten on penalties by Besiktas and Tottenham Hotspur lost to Fiorentina in the last round.
Dynamo Kiev coach Sergey Rebrov scored a brace at Everton in his playing days with Spurs.
With two away wins in the Europa League, Dynamo can count on their striker Andriy Yarmolenko, who has three goals so far in the competition.
Unbeaten in the competition this season, Inter are one of five Italian sides in the round-of-16, but they face a tough challenge against Wolfsburg, who have not conceded a goal in their past three European games.
Roma beat Fiorentina 2-0 at home in Serie A this season and drew 1-1 away, which will mean Rudi Garcia’s side will feel confident.
Holders Sevilla travel to free-scoring Villarreal for the battle of La Liga hopefuls. The hosts have scored 20 goals so far in the Europa League.
Dynamo Moscow are in Napoli, knowing their rivals on the night have kept five consecutive clean sheets.
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