Madrid Still Have Work to Do: Del Bosque
"We commanded the game in the first half and the early goals took their toll on Anderlecht," he said of his team's first half efforts that yielded a 3-0 halftime lead.
"We responded very well to their initial threats and then took control."
But Del Bosque said that it was far too early to presume that Real had sewn up qualification for the knockout phase, especially with back-to-back games against Lazio to come in February.
"We have got six points from our first two games, but we did that last year and then suffered a great deal before we qualified," he said.
"We must keep concentrating on our own game and that way we will improve on our weaknesses and progress further in the competition."
Anderlecht Coach Aime Anthuenis praised the Spaniard's team performance. "We found a Real Madrid in really good form," said Anthuenis."
They have great individuals, but the main thing was that they played like a true team."
The Anderlecht boss said that the difference between this game and his team's victory over Lazio in the first of their second phase games was Real's team work.
"Lazio have great individuals, but they played for themselves, whereas Real also have the individuals but played like a team."
A Fernando Morientes strike after only 12 minutes and a Luis Figo penalty put the reigning European champions in the driving seat from early on. Despite a promising start the visitors never looked like threatening the Real lead.
A powerfully struck drive from midfielder Ivan Helguera extended Real's lead just before the break and then a Roberto Carlos special made it four midway through the second half.
Real looked authoritative in the midfield and strung together a succession of slick moves that could have made for an even more comfortable win.
But the home side took then took their foot off the accelerator in the last 15 minutes and Anderlecht were able to pull back a late consolation from substitute Alin Stoica.
(Reuter)