>Side character is pulling out all stops to fight big bad
>Then the narration starts with: "Against any other opponent, this would've been a sure fire victory, but..."

Bonus points if the villain is actually fucked up, and that moment gives the window for the MC to win.

That or a side character in a harem series who likes one of the girls, but the girl blows off the side character for the MC, and the MC never gets with her.