Luiz Adriano scored twice as Shakhtar Donetsk stormed clear at the top of UEFA Europa League Group J with a convincing 4-0 win over French club Toulouse at the Donbas Arena.

Shakhtar's win moved them five points clear at the top of the table, virtually assuring progression to the round of 32, and took their tally of goals scored in their last four home games to 17.

The Ukrainians were a cut above the struggling visitors from the start and took the lead in the eighth minute when Luis Fernandinho swept home a penalty after Daniel Congre committed a foul in the box.

Despite lying only 12th in the French Ligue 1, Toulouse had made a good start to the group stages with a win over Partizan in Belgrade, and travelled east on the back of a fine domestic win over Paris St Germain at the weekend.

But they failed to pressure last season's UEFA Cup winners and had goalkeeper Johann Pele to thank for blocking an 18th minute shot from the dangerous Adriano.

Adriano got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute when he fired a right-foot shot home from the centre of the box after Rodrigues Jadson found the Brazilian from the right wing.

Junior Ilsinho almost made it three when he headed over the bar from Razvan Rat's cross, but the third came after 39 minutes when Czech Tomas Hubschman fired home from another Rat ball from the right.

Shakhtar continued to press after the break with Adriano forcing an early save out of Pele and Congre booting clear from a Darijo Srna free-kick as the visitors were pinned back in their own half.

Adriano fired in the inevitable fourth after 56 minutes when he put the finishing touches to a cross from Da Silva Willian, and Shakhtar did not let up in their quest to add to their tally.

Srna and Rat both forced further saves from Pele while Ilsinho hit the bar as the home side coasted to a victory which makes their progress to the Europa League's next stage a formality.

Teams

Shakhtar Donetsk Pyatov, Hubschman (Lewandowski 61), Kucher,Rakitskiy, Rat, Ilsinho, Fernandinho, Willian (Aghahowa 72),Jadson (Gai 72), Srna, Luiz Adriano.

Subs Not Used: Khudzamov, Duljaj, Kobin, Ischenko.

Goals: Fernandinho 8 pen, Luiz Adriano 24, Hubschman 39,

Fernandinho 56.

Toulouse Pele, Congre, Ebondo, Nounkeu, M'Bengue,Luan (Tabanou 46), Sirieix (Sissoko 46), Capoue, Didot,Braaten, Pentecote (Soukouna 90).

Subs Not Used: Blondel, Paulo Machado, Gignac, Berson.

Booked: M'Bengue.

Att: 49,000

Ref: Bruno Miguel Duarte Paixao (Portugal).