Karim Benzema netted inside two minutes, Jose Callejon doubled the lead four minutes later, Gonzalo Higuain made it 3-0 in the ninth, and Mesut Ozil rang up by fourth in the 20th minute.

Real’s pace and aggression were too much for the Croatian champions.

Callejon and Benzema scored again after the break but as they eased off Zagreb’s Fatos Beqiraj scored the first goal against Real in Europe this season with a header in the 81st and Ivan Tomecak bundled in a second at the end.

Real’s victory canter made it five wins from five and put them seven points head of second-placed Ajax Amsterdam.

Real coach Jose Mourinho, who rested Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo, handed Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin his first start in midfield after an injury-delayed start to his Madrid career, and the hosts made a whirlwind start.

Frenchman Benzema slotted home from Ozil’s pullback after a swift passing move sliced open the visitors, and former Real youth team forward Callejon finished off a swift break.

Argentine Higuain cut inside his marker and then dinked the ball over the keeper at his near post, before Germany’s Ozil put away a loose ball after Higuain’s shot had been parried.

Callejon broke the offside trap to slot away number five in the 49th and Benzema made it 6-0 on 66 minutes.

As the game ran out of steam Beqiraj nodded in a neat goal and Benzema blasted an overhead kick against the crossbar.