For Pep Guardiola, Manchester City's pre-season friendly against Preston was all about building up match fitness for his players ahead of the Community Shield curtain-raiser against Leicester on August 7.
But Guardiola also will have been quietly delighted by what he saw from a City team that consisted of a mix of senior stars and youngsters looking to prove their worth ahead of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign.
Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring for City with an exquisite free-kick in the first half before City youngsters James McAtee and Samuel Edozie brilliantly combined to seal a routine 2-0 victory.
Here, Sportsmail takes you through the five things that we learned from City's win over Preston on Tuesday night...
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City saw off Preston 2-0 in their first pre-season friendly
1) MAHREZ HIS SILKY SELF
While we can't read too much into the pre-season friendly, one thing that stood out was Riyad Mahrez's usual class - continuing from where he left off at the end of last season for the Premier League champions.
The Algerian winger was menacing throughout for a makeshift City side - linking up brilliantly with Joao Cancelo down the right flank.
Mahrez injected the first real moment of quality into the friendly thanks to his sublime free-kick in the 27th minute.
Preston goalkeeper Connor Ripley had absolutely no chance as Mahrez's curling free-kick sailed into the top right corner of his net.
After netting the opener, Mahrez was at it again for City and nearly helped double his side's lead just before half-time after playing a brilliant ball to the back post only for youngster Cole Palmer to fire his effort over the crossbar.
Riyad Mahrez scored a superb free-kick to put City 1-0 in the lead against Preston on Tuesday
2) LEADER FERNANDINHO CONTINUES TO PROVE INVALUABLE
There were doubts last season whether veteran Fernandinho would extend his stay in Manchester after seeing his game-time reduced and with his deal expiring this summer.
But he impressively fought his way back into Pep Guardiola's side near the end of last season, as they progressed to the Champions League final, and his experienced proved priceless.
And he was rewarded with a new one-year contract in June, something that City supporters were delighted to see.
His winning mentality and vast experience will continue to prove vital to City as they go in their quest for another Premier League title while they desperately search for their first ever Champions League crown.
And on Tuesday, as Guardiola fielded an inexperienced side, Fernandinho's presence proved invaluable once more. The Brazilian midfielder dominated proceedings and
