Lyon coach Claude Puel admitted his players were at the top of their game for their 5-1 thumping of Anderlecht.

Les Gones virtually assured themselves a place in the Champions League's group stages with an attacking masterclass against the Belgians in the first leg of the play-off round.

Miralem Pjanic, Lisandro Lopez, Michel Bastos and Bafetimbi Gomis scored first-half goals for the hosts, before Gomis added another after the break.

Anderlecht grabbed an away goal though Matias Suarez before Gomis' second but that failed to sour Puel's night.

"All the players raised their level," Puel told French daily newspaper L'Equipe.

"We played very simple stuff and had the fortune of opening the scoring quite quickly. I thought we were great in the first half, we started really well.

"We showed a lot of technical quality and we were rewarded for our good build-up play. It was an almost perfect first half."

Puel had seen his side follow up a 2-2 draw at Le Mans on the opening day of the Ligue 1 season with a 1-0 win over Valenciennes at the weekend.

It all went right for them last night, but although they should hold no fear ahead of next Tuesday's second leg, Puel was still not getting ahead of himself.

"This has confirmed out potential," he added. "I will be relieved after we have qualified but that has not been acquired.

"Anderlecht have a team who can trouble us in their little stadium."

Argentina striker Lopez was the star of the show last night, scoring one and setting up another in a superb individual display.

The 24 million euros summer recruit from Porto told Lyon's official club website: "I felt really good on the pitch. It was a dream night.

"I am integrating more and more and I am getting to know my team-mates better and better."

Anderlecht coach Ariel Jacobs admitted his team were beaten by the better side.

He is quoted by L'Equipe as saying: "We received a lesson in individual and collective technique, speed of execution, mobility and maturity."