The epic Champions League match between Real Madrid and Manchester United might have been billed as a contest between two heavyweights of the European game, but it was also one between two of the players at the peak of their powers.
Cristiano Ronaldo shone for Real Madrid, powering home an equalizer to keep the tie in a delicate position, while Robin Van Persie, so often United's rescuer this season, just could not get that goal despite coming close on a couple of occasions in the second half.
Both managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho said they were reasonably happy with the result, with Ronaldo and Van Persie echoing their coach's sentiments.
"It was a tough match," Ronaldo told Real' official website. "Manchester are very strong defensively and created us some problems. We were not able to score more goals.
"We created chances but not clear chances, we should have got another. Everything is wide open and I think we have a chance to go through at Old Trafford. We always have the initiative and we will go to try to win."
Ronaldo admitted to being a little emotional while facing the side he spent six successful years with, and a cracker of a contest awaits when Ronnie and co. visit Old Trafford for the second leg.
"It is a club where I played for six years and I have a very special affection for them," the Portuguese added. "I always want to win but I have respect for the people have given me so much."
Van Persie might rue a couple of the chances that he missed in an otherwise difficult game for the Dutchman, where he was asked to defend for long spells as Real pressed and probed the United rearguard.
The former Arsenal man, though, said he was pretty happy with the end result, even if it might have been different had United taken their chances in the second half.
"We had a couple of good chances and I think if you'd said we would play out a 1-1 before the game, most of us would take it," the 29-year-old told Sky Sports.
"Away from home it's a good result. For the people who watched that game, they've seen chances on both sides and I think it was a great game to watch.
"I had three (chances) in the second half, especially the one just after I hit the bar. That was a big chance. I should have put that one in. I just slightly mis-kicked it, didn't hit it properly.
"With a bit of luck it could have gone in but they didn't and in the dying seconds the keeper made a really good save -- I was counting on that one to go in."
Danny Welbeck scored what might prove to be a vital away goal, but Van Persie knows when it comes right down to it, Real are pretty capable of scoring at Old Trafford.
"At this level I don't really think that these kind of teams really care if they play home or away," he added. "We don't really care and they don't really care. It's just halftime now and we'll be ready for the second half."
