Lisandro Lopez scored a hat-trick against Arles-Avignon as Olympique Lyon warmed up for their UEFA Champions League trip to Real Madrid. The result moves them to within four points of leaders Rennes, and provides them with a much-needed boost ahead of their tricky trip to the Spanish capital.

Opening the scoring early on, Lisandro stole the show before wrapping up his hat-trick after the break, with other strikes coming from Miralem Pjanic and Michel Baston. Lyon went straight at their opponents and Yoann Gourcuff rattled the bar with a thumping 25-yard free-kick with just seven minutes gone.

That set the tone for what was to follow, with Lisandro making it 1-0 five minutes later. Jimmy Briand broke through and pulled back for the waiting striker who composed himself and finished. Four minutes later it was 2-0. Briand and Lisandro combined again, this time for the benefit of Pjanic who ran onto Lisandro's cross to score.

Arles were barely in the game but did have a chance in the 26th minute with Camel Meriem crashing against the post. Gourcuff`s volley that was easily saved by Vincent Plante was the last action of the first half, but in the first action of the second Lyon made it three.

A pinpoint cross from Delgado picked out Lisandro and he strolled on the the ball and headed home. Three minutes later, in the 54th, he made it 3-0. A gap in the Arles defence allowed Bafetimbi Gomis to power through on goal but with Lisandro in support, he squared for his team-mate to complete his treble.

Pjanic then hit the post and Lisandro had a legitimate goal chalked off for offside, with Briand then falling foul of the same linesman. But Lyon did make it five in injury time, with substitute Baston taking aim from 20-yards to add gloss to the result.