Betis-Real Madrid Tops the charts in LaLiga

Real Betis vs. Real Madrid: Minute by minute

Six more years for Kroos to enter Real Madrid history books

Few will have been surprised to see Toni Kroos setting up the first goal in Real Madrid's Saturday evening LaLiga match with Real Betis from a set-piece.

That is because the German - who was this week rewarded with a new contract, which runs to 2022 - has proven that he is a specialist at assisting his teammates from dead ball situations.

Over the past two seasons, 31 of the 70 set-piece assists have come via the boots of the 26-year-old, which is 44 percent.

The latest such assist was his fourth minute free-kick at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, which was met by the head of Raphael Varane for Los Blancos' opener.

Kroos then followed that up by providing a pass from open play for Karim Benzema's goal, which moved him to the top of the 2016/17 LaLiga assists table, with five to his name so far.