Kroos angled an exquisite first-time strike into the far corner of the net inside the first five minutes for second-placed Madrid, leaving visiting goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic flat on his back as the precise finish flew into the top corner of his net from the left-hand edge of the penalty area.

Marquee summer arrival Eden Hazard, signed from English Premier League Chelsea for an initial fee of $100 million, had been the name on fans' lips as he returned to the starting lineup after suffering injury problems this season, but it was Kroos who lit up the action early on.