It's not just about the football—sometimes the drama starts before a single ball is kicked. Ahead of the high-stakes Champions League semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium, Atletico Madrid players were caught on camera making a deliberate point of respect—or lack thereof—toward Arsenal's iconic crest.

The tension dates back to the first leg, which ended in a 1-1 draw. In the aftermath, Arsenal defender Ben White was involved in a heated confrontation with Atletico manager Diego Simeone after accidentally stepping on the Atletico club badge while heading to the dressing room. That sparked a scuffle, with Giuliano Simeone confronting White, and the incident has only added fuel to an already fiery tie.

During their pre-match training session at the Emirates, Atletico's players were seen carefully stepping around the Arsenal badge embedded in the tunnel floor—a traditional sign of respect in football. However, one player, Iker Luque, either didn't notice or simply didn't care, stepping directly on the crest as his teammates tiptoed around it.

On the pitch, there will be no such caution. Both sides know what's at stake: a place in the Champions League final. Arsenal come into the match on a high after a convincing 3-0 Premier League win over Fulham, and they received an unexpected boost when Everton held Manchester City to a 3-3 draw, keeping the Gunners' title hopes alive. Mikel Arteta's men are hungry, and with the Emirates crowd behind them, they'll be looking to settle the score—both on the scoreboard and in the tunnel.