The meeting between Manchester City and Liverpool on Sunday was a furious confrontation on the pitch, but at the end of the game, there was nothing but mutual respect.
With the title on the line and only seven games remaining, the players and coaches of both teams might have been forgiven for letting their emotions get the better of them before and after the 2-2 draw, something that has happened previously when title rivals have faced off.
Both sets of players, however, expressed mutual admiration and a sense of having competed in a match of the greatest caliber.
Players and managers greeted each other after a tense 90 minutes that included everything - goals, VAR rulings, crunching tackles, and an ever-changing storyline.
At full-time, City's Gabriel Jesus and Ederson, as well as Liverpool's Roberto Firmino, Fabinho, and Alisson, gathered together to analyze the result.
In his post-match interviews, City manager Pep Guardiola slapped hands with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp before hugging, while Kevin de Bruyne was eager to acknowledge the quality of their opponents.
"Because they reside in comparable locations, many of the players are familiar with one another. "My kids go to school with a lot of their kids and are friends with them," De Bruyne said later to BBC Sport
"Private is private, but once we're on the field, everyone puts their heart and soul into the team." That, in my opinion, is how it should be. You are not required to battle all of the time. On the battlefield, we fight.