It was an international break of mixed emotions for Manchester City fans, with key players David Silva and Sergio Aguero picking up injuries.
However, the club's Belgian contingent of Vincent Kompany and Kevin de Bruyne will have given some encouragement ahead of the return of Premier League football on Saturday.
Depite concerns, club-captain Kompany started in Belgium's second game at home to Israel, but didn't feature in Saturday's win away to Andorra.
The central defender hasn't featured for City since limping out of their defeat at the hands of Italian champions Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, and Belgium boss Marc Wilmots went against the wishes of Manuel Pellegrini to pick Kompany as captain at the heart of his defence, leading the hosts to a 3-1 win.
Having been subsituted unscathed, Kompany's inclusion will be seen as a positive step in the return to match fitness, but City fans will be relieved there was no recurrence of injury.
Belgian's through to Euro 2016 in France
Before the Israel win, qualification was already secured with a 4-1 victory in Andorra, but top spot in the group is now secured, with Wales taking the other automatic qualification place two points behind Belgium.
City boss Pellegrini will be encouraged by de Bruyne's performances in both games, as the playmaker added two goals to the four he scored for City before the international break.
Both were direct free kicks from similar areas, indicating that he also brings a threat from set pieces, something City lacked last season.
De Bruyne also notched an assist for Dries Mertens' opening goal against Israel, and was at the heart of most of Belgium's attacking threat.
In another positive for City, Jason Denayer was an unused subsititute, but the defender - on a season-long loan at Galatasaray - will gain crucial experience being part of a national squad.
City fans will now be hoping the team push on in the quest for a third Premier League title in five years, with Bournemouth visiting the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.