Isco double and Ronaldo strike help Real Madrid complete crushing win at Real Betis

Real Madrid struck six past Real Betis as they hit back at those who not so long ago claimed they were in crisis under Zinedine Zidane.

The result extended the club’s unbeaten run in La Liga to 23 matches, but more importantly moved them level alongside Atletico Madrid at the top of the table after Diego Simeone side’s thumping 7-1 win over Granada earlier in the day.

Raphael Varane opened the scoring after just four minutes and Real Madrid never looked back from then on, with goals from Karim Benzema, Marcelo and Isco putting them 4-0 up at the half-time break.

Real Betis clawed one back through Alvaro Cejudo at the start of the second half, but another from Isco and a breakaway goal from Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still some way short of his best form at the moment, completed the scoring.

With two of his first team midfielders ruled out through injury the Real Madrid boss shuffled his pack to accommodate Toni Kroos, Mateo Kovacic and Isco all in the same team. On paper it shouldn’t have worked, but by positioning Isco as a number 10 and giving Marcelo a free role it gave Real Madrid the platform needed to beat Real Betis and dominate the contest. So is Zidane better at the tactical side of the game than he is widely credited?

With Luka Modric and Casemiro both ruled out through injury a lot of was asked of Kroos in this game, but the German stepped up to fill the void, and more, left by his teammates. He was at the centre of essentially everything Real Madrid did well, controlling the centre of the pitch while also providing the ammunition for his team’s attacking threats to use. This was the perfect midfield performance.

Real Betis - Adan 7, Piccini 6, Mandi 5, Pezzella 5, Durmisi 7, Petros 5, Martin 5, Brasanac 6, Joaquin 8, Castro 7, Alegria 5. Subs - Ceballas 5, Zozulya 5, Alvaro 7.

Real Madrid - Navas 5, Carvajal 6, Pepe 7, Varane 7, Marcelo 8, Kovacic 7, Kroos 9, Isco 8, Bale 7, Ronaldo 7, Benzema 7. Subs - Lucas 5, Morata 5, Asensio 6.

4' GOAL! Real Betis 0-1 Real Madrid: The away side have an early opener! Kroos’ delivery into the Betis penalty area was a wicked one and Varane rose highest to send a header into the far corner of the net.

27’ RONALDO TAKES AIM! The Real Madrid number seven takes control of a pass on the edge of the box and swivels before taking the shot, but it's straight at Adan. Easy save.

32’ GOAL! Real Betis 0-2 Real Madrid: There's the second goal for Real Madrid! Kroos wins the ball in the centre of the field and tees up the shot for Benzema, who finishes at the near post.

36’ CLOSE FROM BETIS! Piccini takes aim from the edge of the area, attempting to find the far corner of the net with a curling effort, but it flashes past the post. That wasn't far away.

40’ GOAL! Real Betis 0-3 Real Madrid: Benzema's shot takes a double deflection and is controlled by Marcelo inside the area, with the Brazilian swivelling and scuffing a finish past Adan in the Betis goal.

45’ GOAL! Real Betis 0-4 Real Madrid: What a sensational goal! Real Madrid come flying out on the counter, with Ronaldo playing it across goal to Pepe, who squares for Isco to tap into the empty net.

51’ CLEARED OFF THE LINE! Real Betis get a bit of luck as they surge through on goal, with a cross cut back to Joaquin, but the veteran sees his stopped header cleared off the line by Pepe.

52’ RONALDO HEADS OVER! That's another exceptional freekick delivery from Kroos, but the Real Madrid number seven gets over the ball and heads over the target. Dangerous.

54’ CHANCE FOR JOAQUIN! The experienced midfielder has been comfortably the best player in green and white tonight, but he sends his shot wide of the far post on this occasion.

54’ GOAL! Real Betis 1-4 Real Madrid: The home side have clawed a goal back! Some excellent play in midfield sets Cejudo through on goal, finishing calmly past Navas in the Real goal.

63’ GOAL! Real Betis 1-5 Real Madrid: That's a tremendous finish! Ronaldo's cross into the box is picked up by Isco, who sends a sensational curling right-foot finish into the top corner of the Betis net.

70’ GREAT SAVE! Kroos slots in Benzema, who gets the powerful shot away on goal, but Adan comes off his line to close down the angle and make a sensational stop from the Frenchman.

71’ HOW DIDN'T RONALDO SCORE? The ball is played back into the area after Benzema's chance, with Ronaldo ghosting in between the centre backs, but he heads over.

79’ GOAL! Real Betis 1-5 Real Madrid: Ronaldo finally has his name on the score sheet! He burst through on goal with an incredible burst of pace, finishing past Adan with a cool finish.

85’ BLASTED OVER! Real Madrid come flying forward through Asensio and Morata, with the pass eventually played to Ronaldo. However, he doesn't hit he target and blasts over.

87’ JOAQUIN DOES WELL! The experienced winger gets to the byline and squeezes a cross into the six yard box past Navas, but nobody in green or white was on hand to get on the end of it.

Real Betis suffered their biggest home defeat in La Liga history.

Isco scored Real Madrid’s 100th goal under Zinedine Zidane in all competitions.

No other player has made more assists than Toni Kroos in Europe's top five leagues this season (level with Franck Ribery).